I 



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X]E CDMTIE AlTTr)Il^iF, IIAIMIILTO J!^^ 



MEMOIRS OF 



COUNT GRAMMONT 



BY ANTHONY HAMILTON, c 



G^T>-<a.-aA- 



EDITED, WITH NOTES, BY SIR WALTER SCOTT. 



NEW EDITION, WITH SIXTY-FOUR PORTRAITS ENGRAVED 
BY EDWARD SCRIVEN. 



BICKERS AND 




c/^T- i 






TRANSS'lE 
. O. PUXLIC LIBJEUBY 
SjaPT. 1«. 1640 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 



OF 



ANTHONY HAMILTON 



< ' \ inthony Hamilton, the celebrated author of the Grammont* 
JVJ ' aoirs, much cannot now be with certainty known. The 
accounts prefixed to the different editions of his works, down 
to the year 1805, are very imperfect; in that year a new, and, 
in general, far better edition than any of the preceding ones, 
was published in Paris, to which a sketch of his life was also 
added ; but it contains rather just criticisms on his works, than 
any very novel or satisfactory anecdote concerning himself. It 
is not pretended here to gratify literary curiosity as fully as it 
ought to be, mth regard to this singular and very ingenious 
man ; some effort, however, may he made to communicate a 
few more particulars relative to him, than the public has 
hitherto, perhaps, been acquainted with. 

Anthony Hamilton was of the noble family of that name : 

* For uniformity's sake the writer of this sketch has followed the 
Memoirs in the spelling of this name ; hut he thinks it necessary to 
observe that it should be Gi'amont, not Grammont. 



IV BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 

Sir George Hamilton, his father, was a younger son of James, 
Earl of Abercorn, a native of Scotland. His mother was 
daughter of Lord Thurles, and sister to James, the first Duke 
of Ormond ; his family and connections therefore, on the mater- 
nal side, were entirely Irish. He was, as well as his brothers 
and sisters, born in Ireland, it is generally said, about the year 
1646 ; but there is some reason to imagine that it was three 
or four years earlier. The place of his birth, according to the 
best family accounts, was Eoscrea, in the county of Tipperary, 
the usual residence of his father when not engaged by military 
or pubKc business."^ It has been always said, that the -family 
migrated to France when Anthony was an infant ; but this is 
not the fact : " Sir George Hamilton," says Carte, " would have 
accompanied his brother-in-law, the Marquis of Ormond, to 
France, in December, 1650 : but, as he was receiver-general in 
Ireland, he stayed to pass his accounts, which he did to the 
satisfaction of all parties, notwithstanding much clamour had 
been raised against him." When that business was settled, 
he, in the spring of 1651, took Lady Hamilton and all his 
family to France, and resided with Lord and Lady Ormond, 
near Caen, in Normandy,-|- in great poverty and distress, till 
the Marchioness of Ormond, a lady whose mind was as exalted 
as her birth, went over to England, and, after much solicita- 

* In September, 1646, Owen O'Neale took Eoscrea, and, as Carte 
says, " put man, woman, and child to the sword, except 8ir George 
Hamilton's lady, sister to the Marquis of Ormond, and some few 
gentlewomen whom he kept prisoners." No family suffered more in 
those disastrous times than the house of Ormond. Lady Hamilton died 
in August, 1680, as appears from an interesting and affecting letter of 
her brother, the Duke of Ormond, dated Carrick, August 25th. He 
had lost his noble son, Lord Ossory, not three weeks before. 

f Hence possibly Voltaire's mistake in stating that Hamilton was 
born at Caen, in his Catalogue des Ec7-ivains dii Siecle de Louis XIV. 



ANTHONY HAMILTON. V 

tion, obtained two thousand pounds a-year from her own 
and her husband's different estates in Ireland. This favour 
was granted her by Cromwell, who always professed the great- 
est respect for her. The Marchioness resided in Ireland, with 
the younger part of her family, from 1655 till after the Eesto- 
ration ; while the Marquis of Ormond continued for a con- 
siderable part of that period with his two sisters, Lady Clan- 
carty and Lady Hamilton, at the Feuillatines, in the Faubourg 
St. Jacques, in Paris. 

It appears from a letter of the Marquis to Sir Eobert South- 
well, that, although he himself was educated in the Protestant 
religion, not only his father and mother, but all his brothers 
and sisters, were bred, and always continued, Eoman Catholics. 
Sir George Hamilton also, according to Carte,^ was a Eoman 
Catholic ; Anthony, therefore, was bred in the religion of his 
family, and conscientiously adhered to it through life. He 
entered early into the army of Louis XIV., as did his brothers 
George, Eichard, and John, the former of whom introduced the 
company of English gens d'armes into France, in 1667, accord- 
ing to Le Pere Daniel, author of the History of the French 
Army, who adds the following short account of its establish- 
ment : Charles II., being restored to his throne, brought over 
to England several catholic officers and soldiers, who had 
served abroad with him and his brother, the Duke of York, 
and incorporated them with his guards ; but the parliament 
having obliged him to dismiss all officers who were Catholics, 
the king permitted George Hamilton to take such as were 
willing to accompany him to France, where Louis XIV. formed 

* That historian states that the king (Charles I.) deprived several 
papists of their military commissions, and, among others, Sir George 
Hamilton, who, notwithstanding, served him with loyalty and unvary- 
ing fidelity. 



VI BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 

tliem into a company of gens d'armes, and being highly pleased 
with them, became himself their captain, and made George 
Hamilton their captain-lieutenant."^ Whether Anthony be- 
longed to this corps I know not; but this is certain, that he 
distinguished liimself particularly in his profession, and was 
advanced to considerable posts in the French service.-|- 

Anthony Hamilton's residence was now almost constantly 
in France. Some years previous to this he had been much in 
England, and, towards the close of Charles II. 's reign, in Ire- 
land, where so many of his connections remained, { When 
James II. succeeded to the throne, the door being then opened 
to the Roman Catholics, he entered into the Irish army, where 
we find him, in 1686, a lieutenant-colonel in Sir Thomas IN'ew- 
comen's regiment. That he did not immediately hold a higher 
rank there, may perhaps be attributed to the recent accession 
of the king, his general absence from Ireland, the advanced 
age of his uncle, the Duke of Ormond, and, more than all, per- 
haps, to his Grace's early disapprobation of James's conduct 
in Ireland, which displayed itself more fully afterwards, espe- 
cially in the ecclesiastical promotions. 

Henry, Earl of Clarendon, son to the lord-chancelLor, was 
at that time lord-heutenant of Ireland, and appears, notwith- 
standing his general distrust and dislike of the Catholics, to 
have held Anthony Hamilton in much estimation : he speaks 
of his knowledge of, and constant attention to, the duties of 

* They were composed of English, Scotch, and Irish. 

t It is not to be forgotten that, at this time, John Churchill, after- 
wards Duke of Marlborough, served under Marshal Turenne, in the 
same army. 

X Hamilton had three sisters : the Countess of Grammont ; another 
married to Matthew Forde, Esq., of the county of Wexford ; and 
another to Sir- Donogh O'Brien, ancestor to the present Sir Edward 
O'Brien, — a branch of the Thomond family. 



ANTHONY HAMILTON. Vll 

his profession ; his probity, and the dependance that was to be 
placed on him, in preference to others of the same religious 
persuasion, and, in October, 1686, wrote to the Earl of Sunder- 
land respecting him, as follows : " I have only this one thing 
more to trouble your lordship with at present, concerning 
Colonel Anthony Hamilton, to get him a commission to com • 
mand as colonel, though he is but lieutenant-colonel to Sir 
Thomas ISTewcomen, in regard of the commands he has had 
abroad : and I am told it is often done in France, which makes 
me hope it will not be counted an unreasonable request. I 
would likewise humbly recommend to make Colonel Anthony 
Hamilton a privy-councillor here.""^ Lord Clarendon's recom- 
mendations were ultimately successful : Hamilton was made 
a privy-councillor in Ireland, and had a pension of £200 a 
year on the Irish establishment ; and was appointed governor 
of Limerick, in the room of Sir William King, notwithstand- 
ing he had strongly opposed the new-modelling of the army 
by the furious Tyrconnel. In the brief accounts which have 
been given of his life, it is said that he had a regiment of in- 
fantry ; but, though this is very probable, there is no mention 
whatever of his commanding a regiment in the lists published 
of King James's army, which are supposed to be very accu- 
rate : he is indeed set down among the general officers. Lord 
Clarendon, in one of his letters to the lord-treasurer, states, 
" That the news of the day was, that Colonel Eussell was to 
be lieutenant-colonel to the Duke of Ormond's regiment, and 
that Colonel Anthony Hamilton was to have Eussell's regi- 
ment, and that Mr. Luttrell was to be lieutenant-colonel to 
Sir Thomas Newcomen, in the place of Anthony Hamilton."-]- 
It is not known whether Anthony was present at the battle 

* Chapel-lzod, July 11, 1686. 

t Dublin Castle, October 23, 1686. ' 



vm BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCH OF 

of the Boyne, or of Aughrim : his brother John was killed at 
the latter ; and Eichard, who was a lieutenant-general, led on 
the cavalry with uncommon gallantry and spirit at the Boyne : 
it is to be wished that his candour and integrity had equalled 
his courage ; but he acted with great duplicity ; and King 
William's contemptuous echoing back his word to him, when 
he declared something on his honour, is well known."^ He is 
frequently mentioned by Lord Clarendon, but by no means 
with the same approbation as his brother. After the total 
overthrow of James's affairs in Ireland, the two brothers finally 
quitted these kingdoms, and retired to France. Kichard lived 
much with the Cardinal de Bouillon, who was the great pro- 
tector of the Irish in France, and kept (what must have been 
indeed highly consolatory to many an emigrant of condition) 
a magnificent table, which has been recorded in the most glow- 
ing and gTateful terms, by that gay companion, and celebrated 
lover of good cheer, Philippe de Coulanges, who occasionally 
mentions the " amiable Eichard Hamilton "-|- as one of the car- 
dinal's particular intimates. Anthony, who was regarded par- 
ticularly as a man of letters and elegant talents, resided almost 
entirely at St. Germain : solitary walks in the forest of that 
place occupied his leisure hours in the morning ; and poetical 
pursuits, or agreeable society, engaged the evening : but much 
of his time seems to have rolled heavily along ; his sister, 
Madame de Grammont, living more at court, or in Paris, than 
always suited his inclinations or his convenience. His great 
resource at St. Germain was the family of the Duke of Ber- 
wick (son of James II.) : that nobleman appears to have been 
amiable in private life, and his attachment to Hamilton was 
steady and sincere. The Duchess of Berwick was also his 

* This anecdote has been erroneously recorded of Anthony. 
+ So Coulanges calls him. 



ANTHONY HAMILTON. IX 

friend. It is necessary to mention this lady particularly, as 
well as her sisters : they were the daughters of Henry Bulkeley, 
son to the first viscount of that name : their father had been 
master of the household to Charles : their mother was Lady 
Sophia Stewart, sister to the beautiful Duchess of Eichmond, 
so conspicuous in the Grammont Memoirs. The sisters of the 
Duchess of Berwick were Charlotte, married to Lord Clare,* 
Henrietta, and Laura. They all occupy a considerable space 
in Hamilton's correspondence, and the two last are the ladies 
so often addressed as the Mademoiselles B. ; they are almost 
the constant subjects of Hamilton's verses ; and it is recorded 
that he was a particular admirer of Henrietta Bulkeley ; but 
their union would have been that of hunger and thirst, for both 
were very poor and very illustrious : their junction would, of 
course, have militated against every rule of common prudence. 
To the influence of this lady, particularly, we are indebted for 
one or two of Hamilton's agreeable novels: she had taste 
enough to laugh at the extravagant stories then so much in 
fashion, " plus arabes qu'en Arabie,""|- as Hamilton says ; and 
he, in compliance with her taste, and his own, soon put the 
fashionable tales to flight, by the publication of the Quatre 
Facardins, and, more especially. La Fleur dJRpine. Some 
of the introductory verses to these productions are written with 
peculiar ease and grace ; and are highly extolled, and even 
imitated, by Voltaire. La Harpe praises the Fleur d'Fpine, 
as the work of an original genius : I do not think, however, 
that they are much relished in England, probably because very 
ill translated. Another of his literary productions was the 

* (O'Brien) ancestor to Marshal Thomond. Lord Clare was killed at 
the battle of Eamillies. 

t They were wretched imitations of some of the Persian and Arabian 
tales, in which everything was distorted, and rendered absurd and pre- 
posterous. 



X BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 

novel called Le Belier, which he wrote on the following occa- 
sion : Louis XIV. had presented to the Countess of Grammont 
(whom he higiily esteemed) a remarkably elegant small country 
house in the park of Versailles: this house became so fashion- 
able a resort, and brought such constant visitors,* that the 
Count de Grammont said, in his usual way, he would present 
the king with a list of all the persons he was obliged to enter- 
tain there, as more suited to his Majesty's purse than his own: 
the countess wished to change the name of the place from the 
vulgar appellation of Le Moulineau into that of Pentalie : and 
Hamilton, in his novel, wrote a history of a giant, an enchant- 
ment, and a princess, to commemorate her resolution. It has 
however happened that the giant Moulineau has had the ad- 
vantage in the course of time ; for the estate, which is situated 
near Meudon, upon the Seine, retains its original and popular 
designation. 

About the year 1704, Hamilton turned his attention to col- 
lecting the memoirs of his brother-in-law, the Count de Gram- 
mont, as we may conjecture, from the epistle beginning, 
" Honneur des rives eloignees ''f being written towards the 
close of the above year : it is dated, or supposed to be so, from 
the banks of the Garonne. Among other authors whom 
Hamilton at first proposes to Grammont, as capable of writing 
his life (though, on reflection, he thinks them not suited to it), 

* Le bel air de la cour est d'aller a la jolie maison, que le roi a donnee 
a la Comtesse de Gramont dans le Pare de Versailles. C'est tellement 
la mode, que c'est uue honte de n'y avoir pas ete. La Comtesse de 
Gramont se porte tres-bien : il est certain que le roi la traite a mer- 
veille. Paris, le 5 Aout, 1703." — Lettre de Madame de Coulanges a 
Madame de Grignan. 

t A translation of this epistle, which is a complete sketch of the 
Grammont Memoirs, is subjoined to this Biographical Sketch of the 
Author. 



ANTHONY HAMILTON. XI 

ivS Boileau, whose genius lie professes to admire ; but adds that 
his muse has somewhat of malignity ; and that such a muse 
might caress with one hand and satirize him with the other. 
This letter was sent by Hamilton to Boileau, who answered 
him with great politeness ; but, at the same time that he highly 
extolled the epistle to Grammont, he, very naturally, seemed 
anxious to efface any impression which such a representation 
of his satiric vein might make on the Count's mind, and ac- 
cordingly added a few complimentary verses to him : this let- 
ter is dated, Paris, 8th February, 1705. About the same time, 
another letter was written to Hamilton on the subject of the 
Epistle to Grammont, by La Chapelle, who also seemed desi- 
rous that his life should be given to the public, but was much 
perplexed wliich of the most celebrated ancients to compare 
the count to. Mecsenas first presented himself to his imagi- 
nation : absurdly enough, in my opinion ; for there was not a 
trace of similitude between the two characters. This, however, 
afforded him some opportunity, as he thought, of discovering 
a resemblance between Horace and Hamilton, in which he 
equally failed. Petronius is then brought forward, as affording 
some comparison to the Count ; — a man of pleasure, giving up 
the day to sleep, and the night to entertainment ; but then, 
adds La Chapelle, it will be suggested that, such is the per- 
petual activity of the Count of Grammont's mind, he may be 
said to sleep neither night nor day ; and if Petronius died, the 
Count seems determined never to die at all. (He was at this 
time about eighty-five years of age.) It may well be supposed 
that all this, though now perfectly vapid and uninteresting, 
was extremely flattering to Grammont ; and the result was, 
that he very much wished to have his life, or part of it, at 
least, given to the public. Hamilton, who had been so long 
connected with him, and with whose agreeable talents he was 



XU BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 

now SO familiarized, was, on every account, singled out by him 
as the person who could best introduce him historically to the 
public. It is ridiculous to mention Grammont as the author 
of his own Memoirs : his excellence, as a man of wit, was en- 
tirely limited to conversation. Bussy Eabutin, who knew him 
perfectly, states that he wrote almost worse than any one. If 
this was said, and very truly, of him in his early days, it can 
hardly be imagined that he would, when between eighty and 
ninety years of age, commence a regular, and, in point of style, 
most finished composition. Besides, independent of everything 
else, what man would so outrage all decorum as to call him- 
self the admiration of the age ? for so is Grammont extolled 
in the Memoirs, with a variety of other encomiastic expres- 
sions ; although, perhaps, such vanity has not been without 
example. Hamilton, it is true, says that he acts as Grammont's 
secretary, and only holds the pen, whilst the Count dictates to 
him such particulars of his life as were the most singular, and 
least known. This is said with great modesty, and, as to part 
of the work, perhaps with great truth : it requires, however, 
some explanation. Grammont was more than twenty years 
older than Hamilton ; consequently, the earlier part of his life 
could only have been known, or was best known, to the latter 
from repeated conversations, and the long intimacy which sub- 
sisted between them. Wliether Grammont formally dictated 
the events of his younger days, or not, is of little consequence : 
from his general character, it is probable that he did not. How- 
ever, the whole account of such adventures as he was engaged 
in, from his leaving home to his interview with Cardinal Maza- 
rin (excepting the character of Monsieur de Senantes, and 
Matta, who was well known to Hamilton), the relation of the 
siege of Lerida, the description of Gregorio Brice, and the in- 
imitable discovery of his own magnificent suit of clothes on 



ANTHONY HAMILTON. XIU 

the ridiculous bridegroom at Abbeville ; all such particulars 
must have been again and again repeated to Hamilton by 
Grammont, and may therefore be fairly grounded on the 
count's authority. The characters of the court of Charles II., 
and its history, are to be ascribed to Hamilton : from Ms resi- 
dence, at various times, in the court of London, his connection 
with the Ormond family, not to mention others, he must have 
been weU acquainted with them. Lady Chesterfield, who may 
be regarded almost as the heroine of the work, was his cousin- 
german.* But, although the history altogether was written 
by Hamilton, it may not perhaps be known to every reader 
that Grammont himself sold the manuscript for fifteen hundred 
livres ; and when it was brought to Fontenelle, then censor of 
the press, he refused to license it, from respect to the character 
of the Count, which, he thought, was represented as that of a 
gambler, and an unprincipled one too. In fact, Grammont, like 
many an old gentleman, seems to have recollected the gaieties 
of his youth with more complaisance than was necessary, and 
has drawn them in prgtty strong colours in that part of the 
work which is more particularly liis own. He laughed at poor 
Fontenelle's scruples, and complained to the chancellor, who 
forced the censor to acquiesce : the license was granted, and the 
Count put the whole of the money, or the best part of it, in his 
pocket, though he acknowledged the work to be Hamilton's. 
This is exactly correspondent to his general character : when 
money was his object, he had little, or rather no delicacy. 

The History of Grammont may be considered as unique : 
there is nothing Like it in any language. For drollery, 
knowledge of the world, various satire, general utility, 
united with great vivacity of composition, Gil Bias is 

* She was born at the castle of Kilkenny, July, 1640, as appears from 
Carte's life of her father, the Duke of Ormond. 



XIV BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 

■unrivalled: but, as a merely agreeable book, tlie Memoirs 
of Grammont perhaps deserve that character more than any 
which was ever written : it is pleasantry throughout, and 
pleasantry of the best sort, unforced, graceful, and engaging. 
Some French critic has justly observed, that, if any book 
were to be selected as affording the truest specimen of perfect 
French gaiety, the Memoirs of Grammont would be selected 
in preference to all others. This has a Frenchman said of the. 
work of a foreigner : but that foreigner possessed much 
genius, had lived from his youth, not only in the best society 
of France, but with the most singular and agreeable man that 
France could produce. Still, however, though Grammont 
and Hamilton were of dispositions very different, the latter 
must have possessed talents peculiarly brilliant, and admirably 
adapted to coincide with, and display those of his brother- 
in-law to the utmost advantage. Gibbon extols the " ease 
and purity of Hamilton's inimitable style ;" and in this he 
is supported by Voltaire, although he adds the censure, that 
the Grammont Memoirs are, in point of materials, the most 
trifling ; he might also in truth have said, the most improper. 
The manners of the court of Charles II. were, to the utmost, 
profligate and abandoned : yet in what colours have they 
been drawn by Hamilton ? The elegance of his pencil has 
rendered them more seductive and dangerous, than if it had 
more faithfully copied the originals. From such a mingled 
mass of grossness of language, and of conduct, one would 
have turned away with disgust and abhorrence ; but Hamil- 
ton was, to use the words of his admirer, Lord Orford, 
"superior to the indelicacy of the court," whose vices he 
has so agreeably depicted ; and that superiority ha& sheltered 
such vices from more than half the oblivion which would 
now have for ever concealed them. 



ANTHONY HAMILTON. XY 

The Count de Grammont died in 1707. Some years after 
the publication of his Memoirs, Hamilton was engaged in a 
very different work : he translated Pope's Essay on Criticism 
into French, and, as it should seem, so much to that great 
poet's satisfaction, that he wrote a very polite letter of thanks 
to him, which is inserted in Pope's Correspondence. Hamil- 
ton's Essay was, I believe, never printed, though Pope 
warmly requested to have that permission : the reign of 
Louis XIV. had now ceased; and, for several years before 
his death, the character of the old court of that prince had 
ceased also : profligacy and gaiety had given way to devotion 
and austerity. Of Hamilton's friends and literary acquaint- 
ance few were left : the Duke of Berwick was employed in 
the field, or at Versailles : some of the ladies, however, con- 
tinued at St. Germain; and in their society, particularly 
that of his niece, the Countess of Stafford (in whose name 
he carried on a lively correspondence with Lady Mary Wort- 
ley Montague), he passed much of his time. He occasion- 
ally indulged in poetical compositions, of a style suited to 
his age and character ; and when he was past seventy, he 
wrote that excellent copy of verses, Sur V Usage de la Vie 
dans la Vieillesse ; which, for grace of style, justness, and 
purity of sentiment, does honour to his memory. 

Hamilton died at St. Germain, in April, 1720, aged about 
seventy-four. His death was pious and resigned. From his 
poem, entitled Reflections,^ he appears, like some other authors, 

* Voltaire, upon slight evidence, had imputed to him, at an earlier 
period, sentiments of irreligion similar to his own : 

Aupr^s d'eux le vif Hamilton, 

Toujours arme d'un trait qui blesse, 

Medisait de I'humaine espece, 

Et meme d'un peu mieux, dit-on. 
But whether Voltaire had any better foundation for insinuating this 



XVI BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCH OF 

to have turned his mind, in old age, entirely to those objects 
of sacred regard, which, sooner or later, mnst engage the atten- 
tion of every rational mind. To poetry he bids an eternal 
adieu, in language which breathes no diminution of genius,, 
at the moment that he for ever recedes from the poetical 
character. But he aspired to a better. The following lines 
are interesting, for they evidently allude to his own situation ; 
and may every one, who, from a well-directed, or mistaken, 
but pure and generous zeal, is, through the course of a long 
life, assailed by the temptations of poverty, find that con- 
solation in an innocence of manners, which Hamilton so well 
invoked, and, it is to be hoped, not altogether in vain : 

" Fille du ciel, pure Innocence ! 
Asile contre tons nos maux, 
Vrai centre du parf ait repos ! 
Heureux celui, dont la Constance, 
Vous conservant dans I'abondance, 
Ne vous perd point, dans les travaux 
D'une longue et triste indigence !" 

Whatever x^ere Hamilton's errors, his general character 
was respectable. He has been represented as grave, and even 
dull, in society ; the very reverse, in short, of what he appears 
in his Memoirs: but this is probably exaggerated. Un- 
questionably, he had not the unequalled vivacity of the 
Count de Grammont in conversation ; as Grammont was, on 
the other hand, inferior, in all respects, to Hamilton when 
the pen was in his hand ; the latter was, however, though 
reserved in a large society, particularly agreeable in a more 

charge than the libertine tone of Hamilton's earlier works, joined to his 
own wish to hold up a man of genius as a partisan of his own opinions, 
must remain doubtful ; while it is certain that Hamilton, in his latter 
years, sincerely followed the Christian religion. 



ANTHONY HAMILTON. XVll 

select one. Some of his letters remain, in wliicli he alludes 
to his want of that facility at impromptu which gave such 
brilliancy to the conversation of some of his brother wits 
and contemporaries. But, while we admit the truth of this, 
let it be remembered, at the same time, that when he wrote 
this, he was by no means young ; that he criticised his own 
defects with severity ; that he was poor, and living in a court 
which itself subsisted on the alms of another. Amidst such 
circumstances, extemporary gaiety cannot always be found. 
I can suppose, that the Duchess of Maine, who laid claim to 
the character of a patroness of wit, and, like many who 
assert such claims, was very troublesome, very self-sufficient, 
and very exigeante, might not always have found that general 
superiority, or even transient lustre, which she expected in 
Hamilton's society : yet, considering the great difference of 
their age and situation, this circumstance will not greatly 
impeach his talents for conversation. But the work of real 
genius must for ever remain ; and of Hamilton's genius, the 
Grammont Memoirs will always continue a ^be^teous and 
graceful monument. To that monumeni^3$a^^Ife1)43e^''kl^ded,, 
the candour, integrity, and unas^imifig virtues of the 
amiable author. //^ ESTABLISHED iC7: 



^^ilOflGElOm^-^' 






EPISTLE TO THE COUNT DE GMMMONT, 

BY ANTHONY HAMILTON, 
IN HIS OWN AND HIS BROTHER'S NAME.* 

Oh ! thou, the glory of the shore, 

Where Corisanda-f* saw the day, 
The blessed abode of Menodore ; 

Thou, whom the fates have doom'd to stray 

Far from that pleasant shore away, 
On which the sun, at parting, smiles, 

Ere, gliding o'er the Pyrenees, 

Spain's tawny visages he sees. 
And sinks behind the happy isles ; 
Thou, who of mighty monarchs' court 

So long hast shone unerring star, 
Unmatch'd in earnest or in sport. 

In love, in frolic, and in war ! 

To you, sir, this invocation must needs be addressed ; for 

* It is dated from Grammont's villa of Semeat, upon the banks of the 
Oaronne, where it would seem Philibert and Anthony Hamilton were 
then residing. 

t Corisande and Menadaure were both ancestresses of the Count de 
Grammont, and celebrated for beauty. 



EPISTLE TO THE COUNT DE GRAMMONT. XIX 

whom else could it suit ? But you may be puzzled even to 
guess who invokes you, since you have heard nothing of us 
for an age, and since so long an absence may have utterly 
banished us from your recollection. Yet we venture to flattei" 
ourselves it may be otherwise. 

For who was e'er forgot by thee ? 

Witness, at Lerida, Don Brice,* 

And Barcelona's lady nice. 
Donna Eagueza, fair and free ; 
Witness too Boniface at Breda, 

And Catalonia and Gasconne, 

From Bordeaux walls to far Bayonne, 
From Perpignan to Pueycreda, 

And we your friends of fair Garonne. 

Even in these distant and peaceful regions, we hear, by daily 
report, that you are more agreeable, more unequalled, and more 
marvellous than ever. Our country neighbours, great news- 
mongers, apprized by their correspondents of the Kvely sallies 
with which you surprise the court, often ask us if you are not 
the grandson of that famous Chevalier de Grammont, of whom 
such wonders are recorded in the History of the Civil Wars ? 
Indignant that your identity should be disputed in a country 
where your name is so well known, we had formed a plan of 
giving some faint sketch of your merits and history. But who 
were we, that we should attempt the task ? With talents 
naturally but indifferent, and now rusted by long interruption 
of all intercourse with the court, how were it possible for us 
to display taste and politeness, excelling all that is to be 

* Don Brice is celebrated in the Memoirs^ but Donna Eagueza does 
not appear there. 



XX EPISTLE TO THE 

found elsewhere, and wliicli yet must be attributes of those fit 
to make you their theme ? 

Can mediocrity avail. 

To follow forth such high emprize ? 

In vain our zeal to please you tries. 
Where noblest talents well might fail : 
Where loftiest bards might yield the pen, 

And own 'twere rash to dare, 
'Tis meet that country gentlemen 

Be silent in despair. 

We therefore limited our task to registering all the remark- 
able particulars of your life which our memory could supply, 
in order to communicate those materials to the most skilful 
writers of the metropolis. But the choice embarrassed us. 
Sometimes we thought of addressing our Memoirs to the 
Academy, persuaded that as you had formerly sustained a 
logical thesis,^ you must know enough of the art to qualify 
you for being received a member of that illustrious body, and 
praised from head to foot upon the day of admission. Some- 
times, again, we thought, tliat, as, to all ajDj^earance, no one 
will survive to pronounce your eulogium when you are no 
more, it ought to be delivered in the way of anticipation by 
the reverend Father Massillon or De La Eue. But we con- 
sidered that the first of these expedients did not suit your 
rank, and that, as to the second, it would be against all form 
to swathe you up while alive in the tropes of a funeral 
sermon. The celebrated Boileau next occurred to us, and we 
believed at first he was the very person we wanted ; but a 
moment's reflection satisfied us that he would not answer our 
purpose. 

* I presume, when he was educated for the church. 



COUNT DE GilA:MMONT. XXI 

Sovereign of wit, he sits alone, 

And joys him in his glory won ; 

Or if, in history to live, 

The first of monarchs' feats he give, 

Attentive Phoebus guides his hand, 

And Memory's daughters round him stand ; 

He might consign, and only he, 

Thy fame to immortality. 

Yet, vixen still, his muse would mix 

Her playful but malicious tricks. 

Which friendship scarce might smother. 
So gambols the ambiguous cat, 
Deals with one paw a velvet pat, 

And scratches you with t'other. 

The next expedient which occurred to us was, to have your 
portrait displayed at full length in that miscellany which lately 
gave us such an excellent letter of the illustrious chief of your 
house. Here is the direction we obtained for that purpose : 

Not far from that superb abode 

Where Paris bids her monarchs dwell, 
Eetiring from the Louvre's road, 

The of&ce opes its fruitful cell, 

In choice of authors nothing nice. 

To every work, of every price, 

However rhymed, however writ. 

Especially to folks of wit, 

WTien by rare chance on such they liit. 
From thence each month, in gallant quire, 

Flit sonneteers in tuneful sallies. 

All tender heroes of their allies. 
By verse familiar who aspire 



-& 



XXll EPISTLE TO THE 

To seize the lionour'd name of poet. 

Some scream, on mistuned pipes and whistles,. 

Pastorals and amorous epistles ; 
Some, twining worthless wreath, bestow it 

On bards and warriors of their own, 

In camp and chronicle unknown. 
Here, never rare, though ever new, 
Eiddle, in veil fantastic screening, 

Presents, in his mysterious mask, 

A useless, yet laborious task, 
To loungers who have nought to do. 

But puzzle out his senseless meaning. 
'Tis here, too, that in transports old, 

Kew elegies are monthly moaning ; 
Here, too, the dead their lists unfold, 
Telling of heirs and widows groaning ; 

Telling what sums were left to glad them, 
And here in copper-plate they shine. 
Shewing their features, rank, and line. 

And all their arms, and whence they had them. 

We soon saw it would be impossible to crowd you, with 
propriety, into so miscellaneous a miscellany: and these various 
difl&culties at length reconciled us to our original intention of 
attempting the adventure ourselves, despite of our insufficiency, 
and of calling to our assistance two persons whom we have 
not the honour to know, but some of whose compositions have 
reached us. In order to propitiate them by some civilities, 
one of us (he who wears at his ear that pearl, which, you used 
to say, his mother had hung there out of devotion,) began to 
invoke them, as you shall hear. 

! thou of whom the easy strain 
Enchanted by its happy sway. 



COUNT DE GEAMMONT. XXlll 

Sometimes the margin of the Seine, 
Sometimes the fair and fertile plain, 

Where winds the Maine her lingering way ; 

Whether the light and classic lay 
Lie at the feet of fair Climene ; 

Or if, La Eare, thou rather choose 

The mood of the theatric muse. 

And raise again, the stage to tread, 

Kenowned Greeks and Eomans dead; 

Attend ! — ^And thon, too, lend thine aid, 

Chaulieu ! on whom, in raptnr'd hour, 

Phoebus breath'd energy and power ; 

Come both, and each a stanza place. 

The structure that we raise to grace ; 

To gild our heavy labours o'er. 

Your aid and influence we implore. 

The invocation was scarce fairly written out, when we 
found the theatric muse a little misplaced, as neither of the 
gentlemen invoked appeared to have written anything falling 
under her department. This reflection embarrassed us ; and 
we were meditating what turn should be given to the passage, 
when behold ! there appeared at once, in the midst of the 
room, a form that surprised without alarming us : — it was that 
of your philosopher, the inimitable St. Evremond.* [N'one of 
the tumult which usually announces the arrival of ghosts of 
consequence precede'd this apparition. 

* With whom, as appears from the Memoirs, the Count, while residing 
in London, maintained the closest intimacy. St. Evremond was de- 
lighted with his wit, vivacity, and latitude of principle : He called him 
his hero ; wrote verses in his praise ; in short, took as warm an interest 
in him as an Epicurean philosopher can do in any one but himself. 



XXIV EPISTLE TO THE 

The sky was clear and still o'erliead, 

!N"o earthquake shook the regions under, 
No subterraneous murmur dread, 

And not a single clap of thunder. 
He was not clothed in rags, or tatter'd. 

Like that same grim and grisly spectre, 
Who, ere Philippi's contest clatter d. 

The dauntless Brutus came to hector : 
ISTor was he clad like ghost of Laius, 

Who, when against his son he pled, 

'Not worse nor better wardrobe had, 
Than scanty mantle of Emaeus : 

Nor did his limbs a shroud encumber. 
Like that which vulgar sprites enfold. 
When, gliding from their ghostly hold, 

They haunt our couch, and scare our slumber. 

By all this we saw the ghost's intention was not to frighten 
us. He was dressed exactly as when we had first the pleasure 
of his acquaintance in London. He had the same air of mirth, 
sharpened and chastened by satirical expression, and even the 
same dress, which undoubtedly he had preserved for this visit. 
Lest you doubt it — 

His ancient studying-cap he wore. 

Well tann'd, of good Morocco hide ;* 
The eternal double loop before. 

That lasted till its master died : 
In fine, the self-same equipage. 

As when, with lovely Mazarin, 

* One of St. Evremond's peculiarities was, that, instead of a wig, the 
universal dress of the time, he chose to wear his own grey hair, covered 
with the leathern cap described in the text. 



I 



COUNT DE GRAMMONT. XXV 

Still boasting of the name of Sage, 

He drowned, in floods of generous wine, 

The dulness and the frost of age, 
And daily paid the homage due, 
To charms that seem'd for ever new. 

As he arrived unannounced, he placed himself between us 
without ceremony, but could not forbear smiling at the respect 
with which we withdrew our chairs, under pretence of not 
crowding him. I had always heard that it was necessary to 
question folks of the other world, in order to engage them in 
conversation ; but he soon showed us the contrary ; for, casting 
his ej^es on the paper which we had left on the table, — " I 
approve," said he, " of your plan, and I come to give you some 
advice for the execution ; but I cannot comprehend the choice 
you have made of these two gentlemen as assistants. I admit, 
it is impossible to write more beautifully than they both do ; 
but do you not see that they write nothing but by starts, and 
that their subjects are as extraordinary as their caprice ? 

Love-lorn and gouty, one soft swain 
Eebels, amid his rhymes profane. 

Against specific water-gruel ; 
Or chirrups, in his ill-tim'd lay. 
The joys of freedom and tokay. 

When Celimena's false or cruel : 
The other, in his lovely strain. 
Fresh from the font of Hippocrene, 

Eich in the charms of sound and sense. 
Throws all his eloquence away. 
And vaunts, the live-long lingering day. 

The languid bliss of indolence. ^ 

■" Give up thoughts of them, if you please ; for though you 



XXVI EPISTLE TO THE 

have invoked them, they won't come the sooner to your 
succour : arrange, as well as you can, the materials you had 
collected for others, and never mind the order of time or 
events : I would advise you, on the contrary, to choose the 
latter years of your hero for your principal subject: his 
earlier adventures are too remote to be altogether so interest- 
ing in the present day. Make some short and light observa- 
tions on the resolution he has formed of never dying, and upon 
the power he seems to possess of carrying it into execution * 

That art by which his life he has warded. 
And death so often has retarded, 

Tis strange to me. 

The world's envy 
Has ne'er with jaundiced eye regarded : 
But, mid all anecdotes he tells 
Of warriors, statesmen, and of belles, 

With whom he fought, intrigued, and slept, 
That rare and precious mystery. 
His art of immortality. 

Is the sole secret he has kept. 

" Do not embarrass your brains in seeking ornaments, or 
turns of eloquence, to paint his^character : that would resemble 
strained panegyric; and a faithful portrait will be his best praise^ 
Take care how you attempt to report his stories, or hons mots : 
The subject is too great for you.f Try only, in relating his 

* The Count de Grammont, in his old age, recovered, contrary to 
the expectation of his physicians, and of all the world, from one or two 
dangerous illnesses, which led him often to say, in his lively manner^ 
that he had formed a resolution never to die. This declaration is the 
subject of much raillery through the whole epistle. 

t Bussi-Eabutin assures us, that much of the merit of Grammont's 
bons mots consisted in his peculiar mode of delivering them, although his. 



COUNT DE GRAMMONT. XXVll 

adventures, to colour over his failings, and give relief to his- 
merits. 

'Twas thus, by easy route of yore. 

My hero to the skies I bore.^ 

reputation as a wit was universally established. Few of those which 
have been preserved are susceptible of translation ; but the following 
may be taken as a specimen : 

One day when Charles II. dined in state, he made Grammont remark, 
that he was served upon the knee ; a mark of respect not common at 
other courts. '^ I thank your majesty for the explanation," answered 
Grammont ; " I thought they were begging pardon for giving you so 
bad a dinner." Louis XIV., playing at tric-trac, disputed a throw with 
his opponent. The bystanders were appealed to, and could not decide 
the cause. It was referred to Grammont, who, from the farther end of 
the gallery, declared against the king. "But you have not heard the 
case," said Louis. "Ah, sire," replied the Count, " if your majesty had 
but a shadow of right, would these gentlemen have failed to decide in 
your favour ?" 

* St. Evremond, whose attachment to Grammont amounted to enthu- 
siasm, composed the following epitaph upon him, made, however, long 
before the Count's death, in which he touches many of the topics which 
he here is supposed to recommend to Hamilton. 

Here lies the Count de Grammont, stranger ! 

Old Evremond's eternal theme : 
He who shared Conde's every danger. 

May envy from the bravest claim. 
Wouldst know his art in courtly life ? 
It match'd his courage in the strife. 
Wouldst ask his merit with the fair !~ 
Who ever liv'd his equal there ? 
His wit to scandal never stooping 
His mirth ne'er to buffoon'ry drooping : 
Keeping his character's marked plan, 
As spouse, sire, gallant, and old man. 

But went he to confession duly ? 

At matins, mass, and vespers steady ? 

Fervent in prayer ? — to tell you truly, 
He left these cares to my good lady. 



^XXVlll EPISTLE TO THE 

For your part, sketch how beauties tender, 

Did to his vows in crowds surrender : 

Show him forth- following the banners 
Of one who match'd the goddess-born : 

Show how in peace his active manners 
Held dull repose in hate and scorn : 

Shov/ how at court he made a figure, 

Taught lessons to the best intriguer, 

Till, without fawning, like his neighbours, 

His prompt address foil'd all their labours. 
Canvas and colours change once more. 

And paint him forth in various light; 
The scourge of coxcomb and of bore ; 
Live record of lampoons in score. 

And chronicle of love and fight ; 
Eedoubted for his plots so rare. 
By every happy swain and fair ; 
Driver of rivals to despair ; 

Sworn enemy to all long speeches ; 
Lively and brilliant, frank and free ; 
Author of many a repartee : 
Eemember, over all, that he 

Was most renown'd for storming breaches. 
Forget not the white charger's prance. 

On which a daring boast sustaining, 
He came before a prince of France, 

Victorious in Alsace campaigning * 

We may once more see a Tnrenne ; 

Conde himself may have a double ; 
But to make Grammont o'er again, 

Would cost dame Nature too much trouble. 
* Grammont had promised to the Dauphin, then commanding the 
army in Alsace, that he would join him before the end of the campaign 
mounted on a white horse. 



COUNT DE GEAMMONT. XXIX 

Tell, too, by what enchanting art, 
Or of the head, or of the heart, 

If skill or courage gain'd his aim ; 
When to Saint Albans' foul disgrace, 
Despite his colleague's grave grimace. 
And a fair nymph's seducing face, 

He carried off gay Buckingham.* 
Speak all these feats, and simply speak — 
To soar too high were forward freak — 

To keep Parnassus' skirts discreetest ; 
For 'tis not on the very peak. 

That middling voices sound the sweetest. 
Each tale in easy language dress, 

With natural expression closing ; 
Let every rhyme fall in express ; 
Avoid poetical excess. 

And shun low miserable prosing : 
Doat not on modish style, I pray, 

Nor yet condemn it, with rude passion ; 
There is a place near the Marais, 
Where mimicry of antique lay • 

Seems to be creeping into fashion. 
This new and much-admired way, 

Of using Gothic words and spelling. 
Costs but the price of Eabelais, 

Or Eonsard's sonnets, to excel in. 



* Grammont is supposed to have had no small share in determining^ 
the Duke of Buckingham, then Charles the Second's favourite minister, 
to break the triple alliance ; for which purpose he went to France with 
the Count, in spite of all that the other English ministers, and even 
his mistress, the celebrated Countess of Shrewsbury, could do to prevent 
him. 



XXX EPISTLE TO THE 

With half a dozen ekes and ayes, 
Or some such antiquated phrase, 
At small expense you'll lightly hit 
On this new strain of ancient wit. 

We assured the spirit we would try to profit by this last 
atlvice, but that his caution against falling into the languor of 
a prosing narration appeared to us more difficult to follow. 
" Once for all," said he, " do your best ; folks that write for the 
Count de Grammont have a right to reckon on some indulgence. 
At any rate, you are only known through him, and, apparently, 
what you are about will not increase the public curiosity on 
your own account. I must end my visit," he continued, "and 
by my parting wishes convince my hero that I continue to in- 
terest myself in his behalf." 

Still may his wit's unceasing charms 

Blaze forth, his numerous days adorning ; 
May he renounce the din of arms. 

And sleep some longer of a morning : 
Still be it upon false alarms, 

That chaplains come to lecture o'er him ; ^ 
Still prematurely, as before. 
That all the doctors give him o'er, 

And king and court are weeping for him. 
May such repeated feats convince 

The king he lives but to attend him ; 
And may he, like a grateful prince, 

Avail him of the hint they lend him : 

* De Grammont having falling seriously ill, at the age of seventy- 
five, the king, who knew his free sentiments iu religious matters, sent 
Dangeau to give him ghostly advice. The Count, finding his errand, 
turned to his wife, and cried out, " Countess, if you don't look to it, 
Dangeau will cheat you of my conversion." 



COUNT DE GRAMMONT. XXXI 



Live long as Grammont's age, and longer, 
Then learn his art still to grow younger. 



Here ceas'd the ghostly Norman sage, 

A clerk whom we as well as you rate 
The choicest spirit of his age. 

And heretofore your only curate : 
Though not a wight, you see, his spectre 
Doth, like a buried parson's, lecture. 
Then off he glided to the band 

Of feal friends that hope to greet you, 
But long may on the margin stand. 

Of sable Styx, before they meet you. 
No need upon that theme to dwell, 
Since none but you the cause can tell ; 
Yet, if, when some half century more. 
In health and glee, has glided o'er, 
You find you, maugre all your strength, 
Stretch'd out in woeful state at length. 
And forc'd to Erebus to troop, 
There shall you find the joyous group, 

Carousing on the Stygian border ! 
Waiting, with hollo and with whoop. 

To dub you brother of their order : 

There shall you find Dan Benserade, 
Doughty Chapelle and Sarazine, 

Voiture and Chaplain, gallants fine. 
And he who baUad never made, 

Nor rhymed without a flask of wine. 

Adieu, sir Count, the world around 

Who roam'd in quest of love and battle. 
Of whose high merits fame did tattle, 

As sturdy tilter, knight renown'd. 



XXXU EPISTLE TO THE COUNT DE GEAMMONT. 

Before the warfare of the Fronde, 

Should yon again review Gironde, 
Travelling in coach, by journeys slow. 
You'll right hand mark a sweet chateau, 
Which has few ornaments to show, 

But deep, clear streams, that moat the spot, 

'Tis there we dwell, — forget us not ! 

Think of us then, pray, sir, if, by chance, you should take 
a fancy to revisit your fair mansion of Semeat. In the mean 
while, permit us to finish this long letter ; we have endeavoured 
in vain to make something of it, by varying our language and 
style — you see how our best efforts fall below our subject. To 
succeed, it would be necessary that he whom our fictions con- 
jured up to our assistance were actually among the living.. 
But, alas ! 

^o more shall Evremond incite us. 

That chronicler whom none surpasses, 
Whether his grave or gay delight us ; 

That favourite of divine Parnassus 
Can find no ford in dark Cocytus : 

From that sad rivers's fatal bourne. 

Alone De Grammont can return. 



4! 



MEMOIRS 

OF 

COUNT GRAMMONT 



CHAPTEE I. 

As those who read only for aninsemeiit are, in my opinion, 
more worthy of attention tlian those who open a book merely 
to find fanlt, to the former I address myself, and for their en- 
tertainment commit the following pages to press, without being 
in the least concerned about the severe criticisms of the latter. 
I further declare, that the order of time and disposition of the 
facts, which give more trouble to the writer than pleasure to 
the reader, shall not much embarrass me in these Memoirs. It 
being my design to convey a just idea of my hero, those cir- 
cumstances which most tend to illustrate and distinguish his 
character shall find a place in these fragments just as they 
present themselves to my imagination, without paying any 
particular attention to their arrangement. For, after all, what 
does it signify where the portrait is begun, provided the as- 
semblage of the parts forms a whole which perfectly expresses 
the original ? The celebrated Plutarch, who treats his heroes 
as he does his readers, commences the life of the one just as 
he thinks fit, and diverts the attention of the other with di- 

1 



Z MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

gressions into antiquity, or agreeable passages of literature,, 
which frequently have no reference to the subject; for instance,, 
he tells us that Demetrius Poliorcetes was far from being so 
tall as his father, Antigonus ; and afterwards, that his reputed 
father, Antigonus, was only his uncle ; but this is not until he 
has begun his life with a short account of his death, his various 
exploits, his good and bad qualities ; and at last, out of com- 
passion to his failings, brings forward a comparison between 
him and the unfortunate Mark Antony. 

In the Life of [N'uma Pompilius, he begins by a dissertation 
upon his preceptor Pythagoras ; and, as if he thought the 
reader would be anxious to know whether it was the ancient 
philosopher, or one of the same name, who, after being victo- 
rious at the Olympic games, went full speed into Italy to 
teach Numa philosophy, and instruct him in the arts of govern- 
ment, he gives himself much trouble to explain this difficulty, 
and, after all, leaves it undetermined. 

What I have said upon this subject is not meant to reflect 
upon this historian, to whom, of all the ancients, we are most 
obliged ; it is only intended to authorize the manner in which 
I have treated a life far more extraordinary than any of those 
he has transmitted to us. It is my part to describe a man 
whose inimitable character casts a veil over those faults which 
I shall neither palliate nor disguise ; a man distinguished by 
a mixture of virtues and vices so closely linked together as in 
appearance to form a necessary dependence, glowing with the 
greatest beauty when united, shining with the brightest lustre 
when opposed. 

It is this indefinable brilliancy, which, in war, in love, in 
gaming, and in the various stages of a long life, has rendered 
the Count de Grammont the admiration of his age, and the 
delight of every country wherein he has displayed his engaging 




;^ T F, '^^ l;i K !>IL '.0^ 3?^' X) . 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 3 

wit, dispensed his generosity and magnificence, or practised 
liis inconstancy: it is owing to this that the sallies of a 
sprightly imagination have produced those admirable bons- 
mots which have been with universal applause transmitted to 
posterity. It is owing to this that he preserved his judgment 
free and unembarrassed in the most trying situations, and en- 
joyed an uncommon presence of mind and facetiousness of 
temper in the most imminent dangers of war. I shall not at- 
tempt to draw his portrait : his person has been described by 
Bussi and St. Evremond,* authors more entertaining than faith- 
ful. The former has represented the Chevalier Grammont as 
artful, fickle, and even somewhat treacherous in his amours, 
and indefatigable and cruel in his jealousies. St. Evremond 
has used other colours to express the genius and describe the 
general manners of the Count ; whilst both, in their different 

* Yoltaire, in the age of Louis XIV., ch. 24, speaking of that 
monarch, says, " even at the same time when he began to encourage 
genius by his liberality, the Count de Bussi was severely punished for 
the use he made of his : he was sent to the Bastile in 1664. The 
Amours of the Gauls was the pretence of his imprisonment ; but 
the true cause was the ' song in which the king was treated with too 
much freedom, and which, upon this occasion, was brought to remem- 
brance to ruin Bussi, the reputed author of it. 

Que Deodatus est heureux, 
De baiser ce bee amoureux, 
Qui d'une oreille a I'autre va ! 

See Deodatus with his billing dear, 

Whose amorous mouth breathes love from ear to ear ! 

" His works were not good enough to compensate for the mischief 
they did him. He spoke his own language with purity : he had some 
merit, but more conceit : and he made no use of the merit he had, but 
to make himself enemies." Voltaire adds, " Bussi was released at the 
end of eighteen months ; but he was in disgrace all the rest of his life, 
in vain protesting a regard for Louis XIV." Bussi died 1693. Of St. 
Evremond, see note, postea. 

1—2 



4 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

pictures, have done greater honour to themselves than justice 
to theu' hero. 

It is, therefore, to the Count we must listen, in the agreeable 
relation of the sieges and battles wherein he distinguished 
himself under another hero ; and it is on him we must rely 
for the truth of passages the least glorious of liis life, and for 
the sincerity with which he relates his address, vivacity, frauds, 
and the various stratageins he practised either in love or 
gaming. These express his true character, and to himself we 
owe these memoirs, since I only hold the pen, while he directs 
it to the most remarkable and secret passages of his life. 




n,.o,Tr,n.7lu- X. 



C AiR"irui;35 AT, TA i^TIATAJEir 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 



CHAPTEE II. 

In those days affairs were not managed in France as at pre- 
sent. Louis XIII.* then sat upon the throne, but the Cardinal 
de Eichelieu-j- governed the kingdom ; great men commanded 
Httle armies, and Little armies did great things: the fortune 
of great men depended solely upon ministerial favour, and 

* Son and successor of Henry IV. He began to reign 14th May, 
1610, and died 14th May, 1643. 

t Of this great minister Mr. Hume gives the following character. — 
"This man had no sooner, by suppleness and intrigue, gotten possession 
of the reins of government, than he formed at once thi-ee mighty pro- 
jects ; — to subdue the turbulent spirits of the great ; to reduce the 
rebellious Huguenots ; and to curb the encroaching power of the house of 
Austria. Undaunted and implacable, prudent and active, he braved 
all the opposition of the French princes and nobles in the prosecution 
of his vengeance ; he discovered and dissipated all their secret cabals 
and conspiracies. His sovereign himself he held in subjection, while he 
exalted the throne. The people, while they lost their liberties, acquired, 
by means of his administration, learning, order, discipline, and renown. 
That confused and inaccurate genius of government, of which France 
partook in common with other European kingdoms, he changed into a 
simple monarchy, at the very time when the incapacity of Buckingham 
encouraged the free spirit of the commons to establish in England a 
regular system of liberty." {History of England^ vol. iv., p. 232.) 
Cardinal Richelieu died 1642. 



6 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

blind devotion to the will of the minister was the only sure 
method of advancement. Vast designs were then laying in 
the heart of neighbouring states the foundation of that for- 
midable greatness to which France has now risen : the police 
was somewhat neglected ; the highways were impassable by 
day, and the streets by night ; but robberies were committed 
elsewhere with greater impunity. Young men, on their first 
entrance into the world, took what course they thought proper. 
Whoever would, was a chevalier, and whoever could, an abb6: 
I mean a beneficed abbe : dress made no distinction between 
them ; and I believe the Chevalier Grammont was both the 
one and the other at the siege of Trino.* 

This was his first campaign, and here he displayed those 
attractive graces which so favourably prepossess, and require 
neither friends nor recommendations in any company to pro- 
cure a favourable reception. The siege was already formed 
when he arrived, which saved him some needless risks ; for a 
volunteer cannot rest at ease until he has stood the first fire : 
he went therefore to reconnoitre the generals, having no oc- 
casion to reconnoitre the place. Prince Thomas^f* commanded 
the army; and as the post of lieutenant-general was not 
then known, Du Plessis PralinJ and the famous Viscount 

* Trino was taken 4th May, 1639. 

t Of Savoy, uncle of the reigning duke. He died 1656. 

X Afterwards Marechal and Duke de Choiseul. He retired from the 
army in 1672. Monsieur H^nault, in his History of France, under that 
year, says, " Le Marechal du Plessis ne ht pas cette campagne a cause 
de son grand age ; il dit au roi, qu'il portoit envie a ses enfans, qui 
avoient Thonneur de servir sa majeste, que pour lui il souhaitoit la mort, 
puisqu'il n'etoit plus bon a rien : le roi I'embrassa, et lui dit : ^ M. le 
Marechal, on ne travaille que pour approcher de la reputation que 
vous avez acquise : il est agreable de se re2)oser apres tants de vic- 
toires.^" 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 7 

Tiirenne^ were his majors general. Fortified places were 
treated with some respect, before a power wliich nothing can 
withstand had found means to destroy them by dreadful 
showers of bombs, and by destructive batteries of hundreds of 
pieces of cannon. Before these furious storms which drive 
governors under ground and reduce their garrisons to powder, 
repeated sallies bravely repulsed, and vigorous attacks nobly 

*This great general was killed July 27, 1675, by a cannon-shot, near 
the village of Salzbach, in going to choose a place whereon to erect a 
battery. — " No one," says Voltaire, "is ignorant of the circumstances of 
his death ; but we cannot here refrain from a review of the principal of 
them, for the same reason that they are still talked of every day. It 
seems as if one could not too often repeat, that the same bullet which 
killed him, having shot off the arm of St. Hilaire, lieutenant-general of 
the artillery, his son came and bewailed his misfortune with many tears ; 
but the father, looking towards Turenne, said, ' It is not I, but that 
great man, who should be lamented.' These words may be compared 
with the most heroic sayings recorded in all history, and are the best 
•eulogy that can be bestowed upon Turenne. It is uncommon, under a 
despotic government, where people are actuated only by their private 
interests, for those who have served their country to die regretted by 
the public. JSTevertheless, Turenne was lamented both by the soldiers 
^nd people ; and Louvois was the only one who rejoiced at his death. 
The honours which the king ordered to be paid to his memory are 
known to every one ; and that he was interred at St. Denis, in the 
same manner as the Constable du Guesclin, above whom he was eleva- 
ted by the voice of the public, as much as the age of Turenne was 
superior to the age of the constable." 

In former editions, the quotation from Yoltaire was yet longer. It is 
more germane to the present matter to observe, that it appears, from the 
Memoirs of St. Hilaire, where Yoltaire found his anecdote, that Count 
Hamilton was present at the death of Turenne. Monsieur de Boze had 
twice sent to Turenne, to beg him to come to the place where the battery 
was to be erected, which Turenne, as if by presentiment, declined. 
Count Hamilton brought the third anxious request from De Boze ; and 
in riding to the place where he was, Turenne received his death-blow. 
The horse of Montecuculi, the opposite general, was, in the course of 
the same day, killed by a cannon-shot. 



8 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

sustained, signalized both the art of the besiegers and the 
courage of the besieged ; consequently, sieges were of some 
length, and young men had an opportunity of gaining some 
knowledge. Many brave actions were performed on each 
side during the siege of Trino ; a great deal of fatigue was en- 
dured, and considerable losses sustained ; but fatigue was no 
more considered, hardships were no more felt in the trenches, 
gravity was at an end with the generals, and the troops were 
no longer dispirited after the arrival of the Chevalier Gram- 
mont. Pleasure was his pursuit, and he made it universal. 

Among the officers in the army, as in all other places,, 
there are men of real merit, or pretenders to it. The latter 
endeavoured to imitate the Chevalier Grammont in his most 
sliining qualities, but without success ; the former admired 
his talents and courted his friendship. Of this number was 
Matta :^ He was agreeable in his person, but still more by 

*Matta, or Matha, of whom Hamilton has drawn so striking a picture, 
is said to have been of the house of Bourdeille, which had the honour 
to produce Brantome and Montiesor. The combination of indolence 
and talent, of wit and simplicity, of bluntness and irony, with which he 
is represented, may have been derived from tradition, bnt could only 
have been united into the inimitable whole by the pen of Hamilton. 
Several of his bons-mots have been preserved; but the spirit evaporates 
in translation. " Where could I get this nose," said Madame D'Albret, 
observing a slight tendency to a flush in that feature. " At the side- 
board, Madame,'^ answered Matta. When the same lady, in despair at 
her brother's death, refused all nourishment, Matta administered this 
blunt consolation : " If you are resolved, madame, never again to 
swallow food, you do well ; but if ever you mean to eat upon any 
future occasion, believe me, you may as well begin just now." Madame 
Caylus, in lier Souvenirs, commemorates the simple and natural humour 
of Matta as rendering him the most delightful society in the world. 
Mademoiselle, in her Memoirs, alludes to his pleasantry in conversation, 
and turn for deep gaming. When the Memoirs of Grammont were 
subjected to the examination of Fontenelle, then censor of the Parisian 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 9 

the natural turn of liis wit ; lie was plain and simple in his 
manners, but endued with a quick discernment and refined 
delicacy, and full of candour and integrity in all his actions. 
The Chevalier Grammont was not long in discovering his 
amiable qualities ; an acquaintance was soon formed, and was 
succeeded by the strictest intimacy. 

Matta insisted that the Chevalier should take up his 
quarters with him ; to which he only consented on condition 
of equally contributing to the expense. As they were both 
liberal and magnificent, at their common cost they gave the 
best designed and most luxurious entertainments that had 
ever yet been seen. Play was wonderfully productive at 
first, and the Chevalier restored by a hundred different ways 
that which he obtained only by one. The generals, being en- 
tertained by turns, admired their magnificence, and were dis- 
satisfied with their own officers for not keeping such good 
tables and attendance. The Chevalier had the talent of 
setting off the most indifferent things to advantage ; and his 
wit was so generally acknowledged, that it was a kind of dis- 
grace not to submit to his taste. To him Matta resigned the 
care of furnishing the table and doing its honours ; and, 
charmed with the general applause, persuaded himself that 
nothing could be more honourable than their way of living, 

press, he refused to license them, on account of the scandalous conduct 
imputed to Grammont in this party at quinze. The count no sooner 
heard of this than he hastened to Fontenelle, and having joked him for 
being more tender of his reputation than he was himself, the license wa» 
instantly issued. The censor might have retorted upon Grammont the 
answer which the count made to a widow who received coldly his 
compliments of condolence on her husband's death : " Nay, madame, 
if that is the way you take it, I care as little about it as you do." He 
died in 1674. " Matta est mort sans confession," says Madame Main- 
tenon, in a letter to her brother. Tome I., p. 67. 



10 MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

and nothing more easy than to continue it ; but he soon per- 
ceived that the greatest prosperity is not the most lasting. 
Good living, bad economy, dishonest servants, and ill-luck, 
all uniting together to disconcert their housekeeping, their 
table was going to be gradually laid aside, when the Cheva- 
lier's genius, fertile in resources, undertook to support his 
former credit by the following expedient. 

They had never yet conferred about tlie state of their 
finances, although the steward had acquainted each, separately, 
that he must either receive money to continue the expenses, 
or give in his accounts. One day, when the Chevalier came 
home sooner than usual, he found Matta fast asleep in an easy 
chair, and, being unwilling to disturb his rest, he began 
musing on his project. Matta awoke without his perceiving 
it ; and having, for a short time, observed the deep contem- 
plation he seemed involved in, and the profound silence be- 
tween two persons who had never held their tongues for a 
moment when together before, he broke it by a sudden fit of 
laughter, which increased in proportion as the other stared at 
him. " A merry way of waking, and ludicrous enough," said 
the Chevalier ; " what is the matter, and whom do you laugh 
at ?" " Faith, Chevalier," said Matta, " I am laughing at a 
dream I had just now, which is so natural and diverting, that 
I must make you laugh at it also. I was dreaming that we 
had dismissed our maitre-d'hotel, our cook, and our confec- 
tioner, having resolved, for the remainder of the campaign, to 
live upon others as others have lived upon us : this was my 
dream. Now tell me. Chevalier, on what were you musing ?" 
*' Poor fellow 1" said the Chevalier, shrugging up his shoulders, 
" you are knocked down at once, and thrown into the utmost 
eonsternation and despair at some silly stories which the 
maitre-d'hotel has been telling you as well as me. What 1 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 11 

after the figure we have made in the face of the nobility and 
foreigners in the army, shall we give it up, and like fools and 
beggars sneak off, upon the first failure of our money ! Have 
you no sentiments of honour? Where is the dignity of 
France ?" " And where is the money V said Matta ; " for my 
men say, the devil may take them, if there be ten crowns in 
the house ; and I believe you have not much more, for it is 
above a week since I have seen you pull out your purse, or 
count your money, an amusement you were very fond of in 
prosperity." " I own all this," said the Chevalier, " but yet I 
will force you to confess, that you are but a mean-spirited 
fellow upon this occasion. What would have become of you 
if you had been reduced to the situation I was in at Lyons, 
four days before I arrived here ? I will tell you the story." 



12 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 



CHAPTER III. 

"This/' said Matta, " smells strongly of romance, except that 
it should have been your squire's part to tell your adventures." 
" True," said the Chevalier ; " however, I may acquaint you 
with my first exploits without offending my modesty ; besides, 
my squire's style borders too much upon the burlesque for an 
heroic narrative. 

" You must know, then, that upon my arrival at Lyons — " 
"Is it thus you begin," said Matta ? "Pray give us your history 
a little farther back. The most minute particulars of a life 
like yours are worthy of relation ; but, above all, the manner 
in which you first paid your respects to Cardinal Eichelieu : I 
have often laughed at it. However, you may pass over the 
unlucky pranks of your infancy, your genealogy, name and 
quality of your ancestors, for that is a subject with which you 
must be utterly unacquainted." 

" Pooh !" said the Chevalier; " you think that all the world 
is as ignorant as yourself ; — ^you think that I am a stranger to 
the Mendores and the Corisandes. So, perhaps I don't know 
that it was my father's own fault that he was not the son of 
Henry IV. The King would by all means have acknowledged 
him for his son, but the traitor would never consent to it. See 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 13 

what the Grammonts would have been now, hut for this cross- 
grained fellow ! They would have had precedence of the 
O^sars de Vendome * You may laugh, if you like, yet it is 
as true as the gospel : but let us come to the point. 

" I was sent to the college of Pau,f with the intention of 
being brought up to the church ; bi^t as I had quite different 
views, I made no manner of improvement : gaming was so 
much in my head, that both my tutor and the master lost 
their labour in endeavouring to teach me Latin. Old Brinon, 
who served me both as valet-de-chambre and governor, in vain 
threatened to acquaint my mother. I only studied when I 
pleased, that is to say, seldom or never : however, they treated 
me as is customary with scholars of my quality ; I was raised 
to all the dignities of the forms, without haAdng merited them, 
and left college nearly in the same state in which I entered 
it ; nevertheless, I was thought to have more knowledge than 
was requisite for the abbacy which my brother had solicited 
for me. He had just married the niece of a minister, to whom 
every one cringed : he was desirous to present me to him. I 
felt but little regret to quit the country, and great impatience 
to see Paris. My brother having kept me some time with 
him, in order to polish me, let me loose upon the town to 
shake off my rustic air, and learn the manners of the world. 
I so thoroughly gained them, that I could not be persuaded 
to lay them aside when I was introduced at court in the cha- 
racter of an Abbe. You know what kind of dress was then the 

* Csesar, Duke de Yeiidome, was tlie eldest son of Henry IV., by the 
celebrated Gabrielle d'Estrees. He died in 1665. 

t Pan was the capital of the principality of Bearne, and lies on an 
eminence on the Gave Bearnois, being indeed small and well built, and 
formerly the seat of a parliament, a bailiwick, and a chamber of accounts. 
In the palace here was born Henry IV. Exclusive of an academy of 
sciences and liberal arts, there was in it a college of Jesuits, with five 
convents and two hospitals. 



14 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

fashion. All that they could obtain of me was to put a cas- 
sock over my other clothes, and my brother, ready to die with 
laughing at my ecclesiastical habit, made others laugh too. I 
had the finest head of hair in the world, well curled and pow- 
dered, above my cassock, and below were white buskins and 
gilt spurs. The Cardinal, who had a quick discernment, could 
not help laughing. This elevation of sentiment gave him um- 
brage ; and he foresaw what might be expected from a genius 
that already laughed at the shaven crown and cowl. 

"When my brother had taken me home, ' Well, my little 
parson,' said he, ' you have acted your part to admiration, and 
your parti-coloured dress of the ecclesiastic and soldier has 
greatly diverted the court ; but this is not all : you must now 
choose, my little knight. Consider then, whether, by sticking 
to the church, you will possess great revenues, and have 
nothing to do ; or, with a small portion, you will risk the loss 
of a leg or arm, and be the fructus belli of an insensible court, 
to arrive in your old age at the dignity of a major-general, 
with a glass eye and a wooden leg.' ' 1 know,' said I, ' that there 
is no comparison between these two situations, with regard to 
the conveniences of life ; but, as a man ought to secure his 
future state in preference to all other considerations, I am re- 
solved to renounce the church for the salvation of my soul, 
upon condition, however, that I keep my abbacy.' Neither the 
remonstrances nor authority of my brother could induce me to 
change my resolution ; and he was forced to agree to this last 
article in order to keep me at the academy. You know that 
I am the most adroit man in France, so that I soon learned 
all that is taught at such places, and, at the same time, I also 
learnt that which gives the finishing stroke to a young fellow's 
education^ and makes him a gentleman, viz. all sorts of games, 
both at cards and dice ; but the truth is, I thought, at first. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 15 

that I had more skill in them than I really had, as experience 
proved. When my mother knew the choice I had made, she 
was inconsolable ; for she reckoned, that had I been a clergy- 
man I should have been a saint ; but now she was certain 
that I should either be a devil in the world, or be killed in the 
wars. And indeed I burned with impatience to be a soldier ; 
but being yet too young, I was forced to make a campaign at 
Bidache* before I made one in the army. When I returned 
to my mother's house, I had so much the air of a courtier and 
a man of the world, that she began to respect me, instead of 
chiding me for my infatuation towards the army. I became 
her favourite, and finding me inflexible, she only thought of 
keeping me with her as long as she could, while my little 
equipage was preparing. The faithful Brinon, who was to 
attend me as valet-de-chambre, was likewise to discharge the 
office of governor and equerry, being, perhaps, the only Gascon 
who was ever possessed of so much gravity and ill-temper. 
He passed his word for my good behaviour and morality, and 
promised my mother that he would give a good account of my 
person in the dangers of the war ; but I hope he will keep his 
word better as to this last article than he has done as to the 
former. 

"My equipage was sent away a week before me. This 
was so much time gained by my mother to give me good 
advice. At length, after having solemnly enjoined me to 
have the fear of God before my eyes, and to love my neigh- 
bour as myself, she suffered me to depart, under the protection 
of the Lord and the sage Brinon. At the second stage we 
quarrelled. He had received four hundred louis d'or for the 
expenses of the campaign: I wished to have the keeping of 

* A principality belonging to the family of the Grammonts, in the 
province of Gascony. 



16 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 

them myself, which he strenuously opposed. 'Thou old scoun- 
drel/ said I, ' is the money thine, or was it given thee for me ? 
You suppose I must have a treasurer, and receive no money 
without his order. I know not whether it was from a pre- 
sentiment of what afterwards happened that he grew melan- 
choly ; however, it was with the greatest reluctance, and the 
most poignant anguish, that he found himself obliged to yield. 
One would have thought that I had wrested his very soul from 
him. I found myself more light and merry after I had eased 
him of his trust ; he, on the contrary, appeared so overwhelmed 
with grief, that it seemed as if I had laid four hundred pounds 
of lead upon his back, instead of taking away these four hun- 
dred louis. He went on so heavily, that I was forced to whip 
his horse myself, and turning to me, now and then, ' Ah ! sir, 
said he, my lady did not think it would be so.' His reflec- 
tions and sorrows were renewed at every stage; for, instead 
of giving a shilling to the post-boy, I gave liim half-a- 
crown. 

" Having at last reached Lyons, two soldiers stopped us at the 
gate of the city, to carry us before the governor. I took one 
of them to conduct me to the best inn, and delivered Brinon 
into the hands of the other, to acquaint the commandant with 
the particulars of my journey, and my future intentions. 

" There are as good taverns at Lyons as at Paris ; but my 
soldier, according to custom, carried me to a friend of his own, 
whose house he extolled as having the best accommodations, 
and the greatest resort of good company, in the whole town. 
The master of this hotel was as big as a hogshead, his name 
Cerise ; a Swiss by birth, a poisoner by profession, and a thief 
by custom. He showed me into a tolerably neat room, and 
desired to know whether I pleased to sup by myself or at the 
ordinary. I chose the latter, on account of the beau monde 
which the soldier liad boasted of. 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 17 

" Brinon, who was quite out of temper at the many questions 
which the governor had asked him, returned more surly than 
an old ape ; and seeing that I was dressing my hair, in order to 
^ go downstairs : ' What are you about now, sir V said he. 
'Are you going to tramp about the town? No, no; have 
we not had tramping enough ever since the morning ? Eat a 
bit of supper, and go to bed betimes, that you may get on 
horseback by day-break.' ' Mr. Comptroller,' said I, ' I shall 
neither tramp about the town, nor eat alone, nor go to bed 
early. I intend to sup with the company below.' ' At the 
ordinary 1' cried he ; * I beseech you, sir, do not think of it ! 
Devil take me, if there be not a dozen brawling fellows play- 
ing at cards and dice, who make noise enough to drown the 
loudest thunder !' 

"I was grown insolent since I had seized the money; and 
being desirous to shake off the yoke of a governor, ' Do you 
know, Mr. Brinon,' said I, ' that I don't like a blockhead to set 
up for a reasoner ? Do you go to supper, if you please ; but take 
care that I have post-horses ready before daybreak.' The mo- 
ment he mentioned cards and dice, I felt the money burn in 
my pocket. I was somewhat surprised, however, to find the 
room where the ordinary was served filled with odd-looking 
•creatures. My host, after presenting me to the company, as- 
sured me that there were but eighteen or twenty of those 
gentlemen who would have the honour to sup with me. I ap- 
proached one of the tables where they were playing, and 
thought I should have died with laughing : I expected to have 
seen good company and deep play ; but I only met with two 
Germans playing at backgammon. Never did two country 
loobies play like them ; but their figures beggared all descrip- 
tion. The fellow near whom I stood was short, thick, and 
fat, and as round as a ball, with a rufP, and prodigious high- 

2 



18 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

crowned liat. Any one, at a moderate distance, would have 
taken him for the dome of a church, with the steeple on the 
top of it. I inquired of the host who he was. ' A merchant 
from Basle,' said he, ' who comes hither to sell horses ; but from 
ibhe method he pursues, I think he will not dispose of many ; 
for he does nothing but play/ ' Does he play deep V said I. 
* Not now,' said he ; ' they are only playing for their reckon- 
ing, while supper is getting ready ; but he has no objection to 
play as deep as any one/ 'Has he money V said I. 'As for 
that,' replied the treacherous Cerise, ' would to God you had 
won a thousand pistoles of him, and I went your halves ; we 
should not be long without our money/ I wanted no further 
encouragement to meditate the ruin of the high-crowned hat. 
I went nearer to him, in order to take a closer survey ; never 
was such a bungler ; he made blots upon blots ; God knows, 
I began to feel some remorse at winning of such an ignora- 
mus, who knew so little of the game. He lost his reckoning ; 
supper was served up ; and I desired him to sit next me. It 
was a long table, and there were at least five-and-twenty in 
company, notwithstanding the landlord's promise. The most 
execrable repast that ever was begun being finished, all the 
crowd insensibly dispersed, except the little Swiss, who still 
kept near me, and the landlord, who placed himseK on the 
other side of me. They both smoked like dragoons ; and the 
Swiss was continually saying, in bad French, ' I ask your par- 
don, sir, for my great freedom,' at the same time blowing such 
whiffs of tobacco in my face as almost suffocated me. Mr. 
Cerise, on the other hand, desired he might take the liberty of 
asking me whether I had ever been in his country ? and 
seemed surprised I had so genteel an air, without having tra- 
velled in Switzerland. 

" The little chub I had to encounter was full as inquisitive as 



MEMOIKS OF COUNT GEAMMONT, 19 

the other. He desired to know whether I came from the army 
ill Piedmont ; and having told him I was going thither, he 
asked me, whether I had a mind to buy any horses ; that he 
had about two hundred to dispose of, and that he would sell 
them cheap. I began to be smoked like a gammon of bacon ; 
and being quite wearied out, both with their tobacco and their 
questions, I asked my companion if he would play for a single 
pistole at backgammon, while our men were supping ; it was 
not without great ceremony that he consented, at the same 
time asking my pardon for his great freedom. 

" I won the game ; I gave him his revenge, and won again. 
We then played double or quit ; I won that too, and all in the 
twinkling of an eye ; for he grew vexed, and suffered himself 
to be taken in so that I began to bless my stars for my good 
fortune. Brinon came in about the end of the third game, to 
put me to bed, he made a great sign of the cross, but paid no 
attention to the signs I made him to retire. I was forced to 
rise to give him that order in private. He began to reprimand 
me for disgracing myself by keeping company with such a 
low-bred wretch. It was in vain that I told him he was a 
great merchant, that he had a great deal of money, and that 
he played like a child. * He a merchant !' cried Brinon. 'Do 
not believe that, sir ! May the devil take me, if he is not 
some conjurer.' ' Hold your tongue, old fool,' said I ; ' he is 
no more a conjurer than you are, and that is decisive ; and, to 
prove it to you, I am resolved to win four or five hundred 
pistoles of him before I go to bed. With these words I turned 
him out, strictly enjoining him not to return, or in any man- 
ner to disturb us. 

" The game being doi' 3, the little Swiss unbuttoned his 
pockets, to pull out a ne \v four-pistole piece, and presenting it 
to me, he asked my pardon for his great freedom, and seemed 

2—2 



20 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

as if he wished to retire. This was not what I wanted. I 
told him we only played for amusement ; that I had no design 
upon his money ; and that, if he pleased, I would play him a 
single game for his four pistoles. He raised some objections 5 
but consented at last, and won back his money. I was piqued 
at it. I played another game ; fortune changed sides ; the 
dice ran for him, he made no more blots. I lost the game ; 
another game, and double or quit ; we doubled the stake, and 
played double or quit again. I was vexed ; he, like a true 
gamester, took every bet I offered, and won all before him, 
without my gettiag more than six points in eight or ten games. 
I asked him to play a single game for one hundred pistoles ; 
but as he saw I did not stake, he told me it was late ; that he 
must go and look after his horses ; and went away, still asking 
my pardon for his great freedom. The cool manner of his re- 
fusal, and the politeness with which he took his leave, pro- 
voked me to such a degree, that I could almost have kUled 
him. I was so confounded at losing my money so fast, even 
to the last pistole, that I did not immediately consider the 
miserable situation to which I was reduced. 

" I durst not go up to my chamber for fear of Brinon. By 
good luck, however, he was tired with waiting for me, and had 
gone to bed. This was some consolation, though but of short 
continuance. As soon as I was laid down, all the fatal con- 
sequences of my adventure presented themselves to my imagi- 
nation. I could not sleep. I saw all the horrors of my mis- 
fortune, without being able to find any remedy ; in vain did I 
rack my brain ; it supplied me with no expedient. I feared 
nothing so much as daybreak ; however, it did come, and the 
xjruel Brinon along with it. He was booted up to the middle, 
■and cracking a cursed whip, which he held in his hand, ' Up, 
Monsieur le Chevalier,' cried he, opening the curtains ; ' the 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. ^ _ 21 

horses are at the door, and you are still aslee}). "We ought by 
this time to have ridden two stages; give me money to pay the 
reckoning/ ' Brinon/ said I, in a dejected tone, ' draw the 
curtains.' * What !' cried he, ' draw the curtains ! Do you 
intend, then, to make your campaign at Lyons ? you seem to 
have taken a liking to the place. And for the great merchant, 
you have stripped him, I suppose ? 'No, no. Monsieur le Che- 
valier, this money will never do you any good. This wretch 
has, perhaps, a family ; and it is his cMldren's bread that he 
has been playing with, and that you have won. Was this an 
object to sit up all night for ? What would my lady say, if 
she knew what a life you lead V ' M. Brinon,' said I, ' pray 
draw the curtains.' But instead of obeying me, one would have 
thought that the devil had prompted him to use the most 
pointed and galling terms to a person under such misfortunes. 
* And how much have you won ?' said he ; ' five hundred pis- 
toles ? what must the poor man do ? Eecollect, Monsieur le 
Chevalier, what I have said, this money will never thrive with 
you. It is, perhaps, but four hundred ? three ? two ? well if it 
be but one hundred louis d'or, continued he, seeing that I 
shook my head at every sum which he had named, there is no 
great mischief done ; one hundred pistoles will not ruin him, 
provided you have won them fairly.' ' Friend Brinon,' said I, 
fetching a deep sigh, ' draw the curtains ; I am unworthy to 
see daylight.' Brinon was much affected at these melancholy 
words, but I thought he would have fainted, when I told him 
the whole adventure. He tore his hair, made grievous lamen- 
tations, the burden of which still was, ' What will my lady say V 
And, after having exhausted his unprofitable complaints, ' What 
will become of you now. Monsieur le Chevalier ?' said he, ' what 
do you intend to do V ' ISTothing,' said I, ' for I am fit 'for no- 
thing. After this, being somewhat eased after making him my 



22 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

confession, I thought upon several projects, to none of which 
could I gain his approbation. I would have had him post 
after my equipage, to have sold some of my clothes. I was 
for proposing to the horse-dealer to buy some horses of him at 
a high price on credit, to sell again cheap. Brinon laughed at 
all these schemes, and after having had the cruelty of keeping 
me upon the rack for a long time, he at last extricated me. 
Parents are always stingy towards their poor children ; my 
mother intended to have given me five hundred louis d'or, but 
she had kept back fifty, as well for some little repairs in the 
abbey, as to pay for praying for me. Brinon had the charge 
of the other fifty, with strict injunctions not to speak of them, 
unless upon some urgent necessity. And this you see soon 
happened. 

" Thus you have a brief account of my first adventure. Play 
has hitherto favoured me ; for, since my arrival, I have had, 
at one time, after pajdng all my expenses, fifteen hundred 
louis d'or. Fortune is now again become unfavourable : we 
must mend her. Our cash runs low ; we must, therefore, en- 
deavour to recruit." 

" Nothing is more easy," said Matta ; " it is only to find out 
such another dupe as the horse-dealer at Lyons ; but now I 
think on it, has not the faithful Brinon some reserve for the 
last extremity ? Faith, the time is now come, and we cannot 
do better than to make use of it." 

" Your raillery would be very seasonable," said the Chevalier, 
*' if you knew how to extricate us out of this difficulty. You 
must certainly have an overflow of wit, to be throwing it away 
upon every occasion as at present. What the devil ! will you 
always be bantering, without considering what a serious situ- 
ation we are reduced to. Mind what I say, I will go to- 
morrow to the head-quarters, I will dine with the Count de 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 23 

Cameran, and I will invite him to supper." " Where ?" said 
Matta. " Here," said the Chevalier. " You are mad, my poor 
friend," replied Matta. " This is some such project as you 
formed at Lyons: you know we have neither money nor 
credit ; and, to re-establish our circumstances, you intend to 
give a supper." 

" Stupid fellow !" said the Chevalier, " is it possible, that, so 
long as we have been acquainted, you should have learned no 
more invention? The Count de Cameran plays at quinze, 
and so do I ; we want money ; he has more than he knows 
what to do with ; I will bespeak a splendid supper, he shall 
pay for it. Send your maitre-d'hotel to me, and trouble your- 
self no further, except in some precautions, which it is neces- 
sary to take on such an occasion." " What are they ?" said 
Matta. " I will tell you," said the Chevalier ; "for I find one 
must explain to you things that are as clear as noon-day." 

" You command the guards that are here, don't you ? As 
soon as night comes on, you shall order fifteen or twenty men, 
under the command of your sergeant La Place, to be under 
arms, and to lay themselves flat on the gi'ound, between this 
place and the head-quarters." " What the devil !" cried Matta, 
" an ambuscade ? God forgive me, I believe you intend to rob the 
poor Savoyard. If that be your intention, I declare I will have 
nothing to say to it." " Poor devil !" said the Chevalier, " the 
matter is this ; it is very likely that we shall win his money. 
The Piedmontese, though otherwise good fellows, are apt to 
be suspicious and distrustful. He commands the horse ; you 
know you cannot hold your tongue, and are very lil^ely to let 
slip some jest or other that may vex him. Should he take it 
into his head that he is cheated, and resent it, who knows 
what the consequences might be ? for he is commonly attended 
by eight or ten horsemen. Therefore, however he may be 



24 MEMOIES OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 

provoked at his loss, it is proper to be in such a situation as 
not to dread his resentment." 

'' Embrace me, my dear Chevalier," said Matta, holding his 
;sides and laughing; "embrace me, for thou art not to be matched. 
What a fool I was to think, when you talked to me of taking 
precautions, that nothing more was necessary than to prepare 
a table and cards, or perhaps to provide some false dice ! I 
should never have thought of supporting a man who plays at 
quinze by a detachment of foot : I must, indeed, confess that 
you are already a gTeat soldier." 

The next day everything happened as the Chevalier Gram- 
mont had planned it ; the unfortunate Cameran feU into the 
snare. They supped in the most agTeeable manner possible : 
Matta drank five or six bumpers to drown a few scruples 
wliich made him somewhat uneasy. The Chevalier de Gram- 
mont shone as usual, and almost made his guest die with 
laughing, whom he was soon after to make very serious ; and 
the good-natured Cameran ate like a man whose affections 
were divided between good cheer and a love of play ; that is 
to say, he hurried down his victuals, that he might not lose 
any of the precious time which he had devoted to quinze. 

Supper being done, the sergeant La Place posted his ambus- 
cade, and the Chevalier de Grammont engaged his man. The 
perfidy of Cerise, and the high-crowned hat, were still fresh in 
remembrance, and enabled him to get the better of a few 
grains of remorse, and conquer some scruples which arose in 
his mind. Matta, unwilling to be a spectator of violated hos- 
pitality, sat down in an easy chair, in order to faU asleep, 
wliile the Chevalier was stripping the poor Count of his 
money. 

They only staked three or four pistoles at first, just for 
amusement ; but Cameran having lost three or four times, he 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT, 25 

staked high, and the game became serious. He still lost, and 
became outrageous ; the cards flew about the room, and the 
exclamations awoke Matta. i 

As his head was heavy with sleep, and hot with wine, he 
began to laugh at the passion of the Piedmontese, instead of 
consoling him. " Faith, my poor Count," said he, " if I were in 
your place, I would play no more." " Why so ?" said the other. 
'' I don't know," said he, " but my heart tells me that your ill- 
luck will continue." " I wQl try that," said Cameran, calling for 
fresh cards. " Do so," said Matta, and fell asleep again. It was 
but for a short time. All cards w^ere equally unfortunate for 
the loser. He held none but tens or court-cards ; and if by 
chance he had c^uinze, he was sure to be the younger hand, 
and therefore lost it. Again he stormed. " Did not I tell you 
so ?" said Matta, starting out of his sleep. " All your storming 
is in vain ; as long as you play you wiU lose. Believe me, 
the shortest follies are the best. Leave off, for the devil take 
me if it is possible for you to win." " Why ?" said Cameran, 
who began to be impatient. *' Do you wish to know ? ' said 
Matta ; " why, faith, it is because we are cheating you." 

The Chevalier de Grammont was provoked at so ill-timed a 
jest, more especially as it carried along with it some appearance 
of truth. " Mr. Matta," said he, " do you think it can be very 
agTeeable for a man who plays with such ill-luck as the Count 
to be pestered with your insipid jests ? For my part, I am so 
weary of the game, that I would desist immediately, if he was 
not so great a loser." Nothing is more dreaded by a losing 
gamester, than such a threat ; and the Count, in a softened 
tone, told the Chevalier that Mr. Matta might say what he 
pleased, if he did not offend him ; that, as to himself, it did 
not give him the smallest uneasiness. 

The Chevalier de Grammont gave the Count far better 



26 MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

treatment than lie Mmself had experienced from the Swiss at 
Lyons ; for he played upon credit as long as he pleased ; which 
Cameran took so kindly, that he lost fifteen hundred pistoles, 
and paid them the next morning. As for Matta, he was se- 
verely reprimanded for the intemperance of his tongue. All 
the reason he gave for his conduct was, that he made it a 
point of conscience not to suffer the poor Savoyard to be 
cheated without informing him of it. ' " Besides," said he, " it 
would have given me pleasure to have seen my infantry en- 
gaged with his horse, if he had been inclined to mischief. 

This adventure having recruited their finances, fortune 
favoured them the remainder of the campaign, and the Che- 
valier de Grammont, to prove that he had only seized upon 
the Count's effects by way of reprisal, and to indemnify him- 
self for the losses he had sustained at Lyons, began from this 
time to make the same use of his money, that he has been 
known to do since upon all occasions. He found out the dis- 
tressed, in order to relieve them ; officers who had lost their 
equipage in the war, or their money at play ; soldiers who 
were disabled in the trenches ; in short, every one felt the 
influence of his benevolence : but his manner of conferring a. 
favour exceeded even the favour itself. 

Every man possessed of such amiable qualities must meet 
with success in all his undertakings. The soldiers knew his 
person, and adored him. The generals were sure to meet him 
in every scene of action, and sought his company at other 
times. As soon as fortune declared for him, his first care was 
to make restitution, by desiring Cameran to go his halves in 
all parties where the odds were in his favour. 

An inexhaustible fund of vivacity and good humour gave 
a certain air of novelty to whatever he either said or did. ] 
know not on what occasion it was that Monsieur de Turenne, 




Oiamp/iwne F. 



£. Scriveti S. 



'MAIPaZE S (HEAX :I)jF. jI'T^lRT.:^^^:^., 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 27 

towards the end of tlie siege, commanded a separate body. 
The Chevalier de Grammont went to visit him at his new 
quarters, where he found fifteen or twenty officers, M. de 
Turenne was naturally fond of merriment, and the Chevalier's 
presence was sure to inspire it. He was much pleased with 
this visit, and, by way of acknowledgment, would have en- 
gaged him to play. The Chevalier de Grammont, in returning 
him thanks, said, that he had learned from his tutor, that 
when a man went to see his friends, it was neither prudent to 
leave his own money behind him, nor civil to carry off theirs. 
" Truly," said Monsieur de Turenne, " you will find neither 
deep play nor much money among us ; but, that it may not be 
said that we suffered you to depart without playing, let us 
stake every one a horse." 

The Chevalier de Grammont agreed. Fortune, who had 
followed him to a place where he did not think he should 
have any need of her, made him win fifteen or sixteen horses, 
by way of joke ; but, seeing some countenances disconcerted at 
the loss, " Gentlemen," said he, " I should be sorry to see you 
return on foot from your general's quarters ; it v/ill be enough 
for me if you send me your horses to-morrow, except one, 
which I give for the cards." 

The valet-de-chambre thought he was bantering. " I speak 
seriously," said the Chevalier, " I give you a horse for the cards ; 
and, what is more, take whichever you please, except my own." 
" Truly," said Monsieur de Turenne, " I am vastly pleased with 
the novelty of the thing ; for I don't believe that a horse was 
€ver before given for the cards." 

Trino surrendered at last. The Baron de Batteville,* who 

* This officer appears to have been the same person who was after- 
wards ambassador from Spain to the court of Great Britain, where, in 



28 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 

had defended it valiantly, and for a long time, obtained a 
capitulation worthy of such a resistance. I do not know whether 
the Chevalier de Grammont had any share in the capture of 
this place ; but I know very well, that during a more glorious 
reign, and with armies ever victorious, his intrepidity and 
address have been the cause of taking others since, even under 
the eye of his master, as we shall see in the sequel of these 
memoirs. 



the summer of 1660, he offended the French court, by claiming prece- 
dence of their ambassador, Count d'Estrades, on the public entry of 
the Swedish ambassador into London. On this occasion the court of 
France compelled its rival of Spain to submit to the mortifying circum- 
stance of acknowledging the French superiority. To commemorate this 
important victory, Louis XIV. caused a medal to be struck, repre- 
senting the Spanish ambassador, the Marquis de Fuente, making the de- 
claration to that king, "No concurrer con los ambassadores des de 
Francia," with this inscription, " Jus prsecedendi assertum," and uLder 
it, "Hispaniorum excusatio coram xxxlegatis principum, 1662.'' A very 
curious account of the fray occasioned by this dispute, drawn up by 
Evelyn, is to be seen in that gentleman's article in the Biographia Britan- 
nica. Lord Clarendon, speaking of Baron de Batteville, says, he was born 
in Burgundy, in the Spanish quarters, and bred a soldier, in which 
profession he was an officer of note, and at that time was governor of 
St. Sebastian, and of that province. He seemed a rough man, and to 
have more of the camp, but, in truth, knew the intrigues of a court 
better than most Spaniaids; and, except when his passion surprised him, 
was wary and cunning in his negotiation. He lived with less reserva- 
tion and more jollity than the ministers of that crown used to do, and 
drew such of the court to his table and conversation as he observed 
to be loud talkers, and confident enough in the king's presence. — 
Continuation, of Clarendon^ p. 84. 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 29 



CHAPTEK IV. 

Military glory is at most but one half of the accomplish- 
ments which distinguish heroes. Love must give the finishing 
stroke, and adorn their character by the difficulties they en- 
counter, the temerity of their enterprises, and finally, by the 
lustre of success. We have examples of this, not only in 
romances, but also in the genuine histories of the most famous 
warriors, and the most celebrated conquerors. 

The Chevalier de Grammont and Matta, who did not think 
much of these examples, were, however, of opinion, that it 
would be very agreeable to refresh themselves after the fatigues 
of the siege of Trino, by forming some other sieges, at the ex- 
pense of the beauties and the husbands of Turin. As the 
campaign had finished early, they thought they should have 
time to perform some exploits before the bad weather obliged 
them to repass the mountains. 

They sallied forth, therefore, not unlike Amadis de Gaul or 
Don Galaor after they had been dubbed knights, eager in 
their search after adventures in love, war, and enchantments. 
They were greatly superior to those two brothers, who only 
knew how to cleave in twain giants, to break lances, and to 
carry off fair damsels behind them on horseback, without 



30 MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

saying a single word to them; whereas our heroes were 
adepts at cards and dice, of which the others were totally 
ignorant. 

They went to Turin, met with an agTeeable reception, and 
were greatly distinguished at court. Could it be otherwise ? 
They were young and handsome ; they had wit at command, 
and spent their money liberally. In what country will not a 
man succeed, possessing such advantages ? As Turin was at 
that time the seat of gallantry and of love, two strangers of 
this description, who were always cheerful, brisk, and lively, 
could not fail to please the ladies of the court. 

Though the men of Turin were extremely handsome, they 
were not, however, possessed of the art of pleasing. They 
treated their wives with respect, and were courteous to 
strangers. Their wives, still more handsome, were full as 
courteous to strangers, and less respectful to their husbands. 

Madame Eoyale,* a worthy daughter of Henry IV. ren- 
dered her little court the most agreeable in the world. She 
inherited such of her father's virtues as compose the proper 
ornament of her sex; and with regard to what are termed 
the foibles of great souls, her highness had in no wise de- 
generated. 

The Count de Tanes was her prime minister. It was not 

* Christina, secood daughter of Henry IV., married to Victor Ama- 
deus, Prince of Piedmont, afterwards Duke of Savoy. She seems to 
have been well entitled to the character here given of her. Keysler, in 
his Travels^ vol. i., p. 239, speaking of a fine villa, called La Vigne de 
Madame Poyale, near Turin, says, " During the minority under the 
regent Christina, both the house and garden were often the scenes^ 
of riot and debauchery. On this account, in the king's advanced age^ 
when he was, as it were, inflamed with an external flame of religion, 
with -which possibly the admonitions of his father-confessor might 
concur, this place became so odious to him, that, upon the death of 
Madame Eoyale, he bestowed it on the hospital." She died in 1663. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 31 

difficult to conduct affairs of state during his administration. 
N"o complaints were alleged against him; and the princess, 
satisfied with his conduct herself, was, above all, glad to have 
her choice approved by her whole court, where people lived 
nearly according to the manners and customs of ancient 
chivalry. 

The ladies had each a professed lover, for fashion's sake,. 
besides volunteers, whose numbers were unlimited. The de-. 
clared admirers wore their mistresses' liveries, their arms, and 
sometimes even took their names. Their office was, never to 
quit them in public, and never to approach them in private ; 
to be their squires upon all occasions, and, in jousts and tour- 
naments, to adorn their lances, their housings, and their coats,. 
with the cyphers and the colours of their dulcineas. 

Matta was far from being averse to gallantry ; but would 
have liked it more simple than as it was practised at Turin. 
The ordinary forms would not have disgusted him ; but he found 
here a sort of superstition in the ceremonies and worship of 
love, which he thought very inconsistent : however, as he had 
submitted his conduct in that matter to the direction of the 
Chevalier de Grammont, he was obliged to follow his example, 
and to conform to the customs of the country. 

They enlisted themselves at the same time in the service of 
two beauties, whose former squires gave them up immediately 
from motives of politeness. The Chevalier de Grammont 
chose Mademoiselle de Saint-Germain, and told Matta to 
offer his services to Madame de Senantes. Matta consented, 
though he liked the other better ; but the Chevalier de Gram- 
mont persuaded him that Madame de Senantes was more 
suitable for him. As he had reaped advantage from the 
Chevalier's talents in the first projects they had formed, he 
resolved to follow his instructions in love, as he had done his 
advice in play. 



32 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

Mademoiselle de Saint-Germain was in the bloom of youth ; 
her eyes were small, but very bright and sparkling, and, like 
her hair, were black ; her complexion was lively and clear, 
thouf^h not fair : she had an agreeable mouth, two fine rows 
of teeth, a neck as handsome as one could wish, and a most 
delightful shape ; she had a particular elegance in her elbows, 
which, however, she did not show to advantage ; her hands 
were rather large and not very white ; her feet, though not of 
the smallest, were well shaped; she trusted to Providence, 
and used no art to set off those graces which she had received 
from nature ; but, notwithstanding her negligence in the em- 
bellishment of her charms, there was something so lively in 
her person, that the Chevalier de Grammont was caught at 
first sight ; her wit and humour corresponded with her other 
qualities, being quite easy and perfectly charming ; she was 
all mirth, all life, all complaisance and politeness, and all was 
natural, and always the same without any variation. 

The Marchioness de Senantes* was esteemed fair, and she 
might have enjoyed, if she had pleased, the reputation of 
having red hair, had she not rather chosen to conform to 
the taste of the age in which she lived than to follow that of 
the ancients : she had all the advantages of red hair without 
any of the inconveniences; a constant attention to her person- 
served as a corrective to the natural defects of her complexion. 
After all, what does it signify, whether cleanliness be owing 
to nature or to art ? it argues an in^ddious temper to be very 
inquisitive about it. She had a great deal of wit, a good 
memory, more reading, and a still greater inclination towards 
tenderness. 

She had a husband whom it would have been criminal even 

* Lord Orford says, the family of Senantes stiU remains in Piedmont, 
and bears the title of Marquis de Carailles. 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. S3 

in chastity to spare. He piqued himself upon being a Stoic, 
and gloried in being slovenly and disgusting in honour of his 
profession. In this he succeeded to admiration ; for he was 
very fat, so that he perspired almost as much in winter as in 
summer. Erudition and brutaKty seemed to be the most 
conspicuous features of his character, and were displayed in 
his conversation, sometimes together, sometimes alternately, 
but always disagreeably : he was not jealous, and yet he was 
troublesome ; he was very well pleased to see attentions paid 
to his wife, provided more were paid to him. 

As soon as our adventurers had declared themselves, the 
Chevalier de Grammont arrayed himself in green habiliments, 
and dressed Matta in blue, these being the favourite colours 
of their new mistresses. They entered immediately upon 
duty : the Chevalier learned and practised all the ceremonies 
of this species of gallantry, as if he always had been accus- 
tomed to them ; but Matta commonly forgot one half, and was 
not over perfect in practising the other. He never could 
remember that his office was to promote the glory, and not 
the interest, of his mistress. 

The Duchess of Savoy gave the very next day an enter- 
tainment at La Venerie,* where all the ladies were invited. 

* This place is thus described by Keysler, Travels, vol. i., p. 235 
— " The palace most frequented by the royal family is La Yenerie, the 
court generally continuing there from the spring to December. It is 
about a league from Turin : the road that leads to it is well paved, and 
the greatest part of it planted with trees on each side : it is not always 
in a direct line, but runs a little winding between fine meadows, fields, 
and vineyards." After describing the palace as it then was, he adds, — 
" The palace garden at present consists only of hedges and walks, where- 
as formerly it had fine water-works and grottoes, besides the fountain of 
Hercules and the temple of Diana, of which a description may be seen 
in the Nouveau Theatre de Piedmont. But now nothing of these re- 
mains, being gone to ruin, partly by the ravages of the French, and 

3 



34 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 

The Chevalier was so agreeable and diverting, that he made 
his mistress almost die with laughing. Matta, in leading his 
lady to the coach, squeezed her hand, and at their return from 
the promenade he begged of her to pity his sufferings. TMs 
was proceeding rather too precipitately, and although Madame 
de Senantes was not destitute of the natural compassion of 
her sex, she nevertheless was shocked at the familiarity of 
this treatment; she thought herself obliged to show some 
degree of resentment, and pulling away her hand, which he 
had pressed with still greater fervency upon this declaration, 
she went up to the royal apartments without even looking at 
her new lover. Matta, never thinking that he had offended her,, 
suffered her to go, and went in search of some company to sup 
with him : nothing was more easy for a man of his disposition ; 
he soon found what he wanted, sat a long time at table to 
refresh himseK after the fatigues of love, and went to bed 
completely satisfied that he had performed his part to perfec- 
tion. 

During all this time the Chevalier de Grammont acquitted 
himself towards Mademoiselle de Saint Germain with univer- 
sal applause ; and without remitting his assiduities, he found 
means to shine, as they went along, in the relation of a 
thousand entertaining anecdotes, which he introduced in the 
general conversation. Her Eoyal Highness heard them with 
pleasure, and the solitary Senantes likewise attended to them. 
He perceived this, and quitted his mistress to inquire what 
she had done with Matta. 

" I !" said she, " I have done nothing with him ; but I don't 

partly by the king's order that they should be demolished, to make 
room for something else ; but those vacuities have not yet, and probably 
will not very soon be filled up," 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 35 

know what he would have done with me if I had been oblic^- 
ing enough to listen to his most humble solicitations." 

She then told him in what manner his friend had treated 
her the very second day of their acquaintance. 

The Chevalier could not forbear laughing at it : he told her 
Matta was rather too unceremonious, but yet she would like 
him better as their intimacy more improved, and for her con- 
solation he assured her that he would have spoken in the 
same manner to her Eoyal Highness herself; however, he 
would not fail to give him a severe reprimand. He went the 
next morning into his room for that purpose ; but Matta had 
gone out early in the morning on a shooting party, in which he 
had been engaged by his supper companions in the preceding 
evening. At his return he took a brace of partridges and 
went to his mistress. Being asked whether he wished to see 
the Marquis, he said no ; and the Swiss telling him his lady 
was not at home, he left his partridges, and desired him to 
present them to his mistress from him. 

The Marchioness was at her toilet, and was decorating her 
head with all the grace she could devise to captivate Matta, 
at the moment he was denied admittance : she knew nothing 
of the matter ; but her husband knew every particular. He 
had taken it in dudgeon that the first visit was not paid to 
him, and as he was resolved that it should not be paid to his 
wife, the Swiss had received his orders, and had almost been 
beaten for receiving the present which had been left. The 
partridges, however, were immediately sent back, and Matta, 
without examining into the cause, was glad to have them 
again. He went to court without ever changing his clothes, 
or in the least considering he ought not to appear there with- 
out his lady's colours. He found her becomingly dressed; 
her eyes appeared to him more than usually sparkling, and her 

3—2 



36 MEMOIES OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 

whole person altogether divine. He began from that day to 
be much pleased with himself for his complaisance to the 
Chevalier de Grammont ; however, he could not help remark- 
ing that she looked but coldly upon him. This appeared to 
him a very extraordinary return for his services, and, imagin- 
ing that she was unmindful of her weighty obligations to him, 
he entered into conversation with her, and severely repri- 
manded her for having sent back his partridges with so much 
indifference. 

She did not understand what he meant ; and highly offended 
that he did not apologize, after the reprimand which she con- 
cluded him to have received, told him that he certainly had 
met with ladies of very complying dispositions in his travels, 
as he seemed to give to himself airs that she was by no means 
accustomed to endure. Matta desired to know wherein he 
could be said to have given himself any. " Wherein ?" said 
she : " the second day that you honoured me with your atten- 
tions, you treated me as if I had been your humble servant 
for a thousand years ; the first time that I gave you my hand 
you squeezed it as violently as you were able. After this 
commencement of your courtship, I got into my coach, and 
you mounted your horse ; but instead of riding by the side of 
the coach, as any reasonable gallant would have done, no 
sooner did a hare start from her form, than you immediately 
galloped full speed after her ; having regaled yourself, during 
the promenade, by taking snuff, without ever deigning to 
bestow a thought on me, the only proof you gave me, on your 
return, that you recollected me, was by soliciting me to sur- 
render my reputation in terms polite enough, but very explicit. 
And now you talk to me of having been shooting of partridges 
and of some visit or other, which, I suppose, you have been 
dreaming of, as well as of all the rest." 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 37 

The Chevalier de Grammont now advanced, to the intei- 
ruption of this whimsical dialogue. Matta was rebuked for 
his forwardness, and his friend took abundant pains to con- 
vince him that his conduct bordered more upon insolence than 
familiarity. Matta endeavoured to exculpate himself, but suc- 
ceeded ill. His mistress took compassion upon him, and con- 
sented to admit his excuses, for the manner, rather than his 
repentance for the fact, and declared that it was the intention 
alone which could either justify or condemn, in such cases ; 
that it was very easy to pardon ' those transgressions which 
arise from excess of tenderness, but not such as proceeded from 
too great a presumption of success. Matta swore that he only 
squeezed her hand from the violence of his passion, and that 
he had been driven, by necessity, to ask her to relieve it ; that 
he was yet a novice in the arts of solicitation ; that he could 
not possibly thinly her more worthy of his affection, after a 
month's service, than at the present moment ; and that he 
entreated her to cast away an occasional thought upon him 
when her leisure admitted. The Marchioness was not offended, 
she saw very well that she must require an implicit conformity 
to the established rule of decorum, when she had to deal with 
such a character ; and the Chevalier de Grammont, after this 
sort of reconciliation, went to look after his own affair with 
Mademoiselle de St. Germain. 

His concern was not the offspring of mere good nature, nay, 
it was the reverse; for no sooner did he perceive that the 
Marchioness looked with an eye of favour upon him, than this 
conquest, appearing to him to be more easy than the other, he 
thought it was prudent to take advantage of it, for fear of 
losing the opportunity, and that he might not have spent all 
his time to no purpose, in case he should prove unsuccessful 
with the little St. Germain. 



38 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

In the mean time, in order to maintain that authority which 
he had usurped over the conduct of his friend, he, that very 
evening, notwithstanding what had been already said, repri- 
manded him for presuming to appear at court in his morning 
suit, and without his mistress's badge ; for not having had the 
wit or prudence to pay his first visit to the Marquis de Senan- 
tes, inst^ead of consuming his time, to no purpose, in inquiries 
for the lady ; and, to conclude, he asked him what the devil 
he meant by presenting her with a brace of miserable red par- 
tridges. " And why not ?" said Matta : " ought they to have 
been blue, too, to match the cockade and sword-knots you 
made me wear the other day ? Plague not me with your non- 
sensical whimsies : my life on it, in one fortnight your equal 
in foppery and folly will not be found throughout the confines 
of Turin ; but, to reply to your questions, I did not call upon 
Monsieur de Senantes, because I had nothing to do with him, 
and because he is of a species of animals which I dislike, and 
always shall dislike : as for you, you appear quite charmed 
with being decked out in green ribands, with writing letters 
to your mistress, and filling your pockets with citrons, pista- 
chios, and such sort of stuff, with which you are always cram- 
ming the poor girl's mouth, in spite of her teeth : you hope to 
succeed by chanting ditties composed in the days of Corisande 
and of Henry IV., which you will swear yourself have made 
upon her : happy in practising the ceremonials of gallantry, 
you have no ambition for the essentials. Very well : every 
one has a particular way of acting, as well as a particular 
taste : your's is to trifle in love ; and, provided you can make 
Mademoiselle de St. Germain laugh, you are satisfied : as for 
my part, I am persuaded, that women here are made of the 
same materials as in other places ; and I do not think that 
they can be mightily offended, if one sometimes leaves off 



1 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 39 

trifling, to come to the point : however, if the Marchioness is 
not of this way of thinking, she may e'en provide herself else- 
where ; for I can assure her, that I shall not long act the part 
of her squire." 

This was an unnecessary menace ; for the Marchioness in 
reality liked him very well, was nearly of the same way of 
thinking herself, and wished for nothing more than to ,put his 
gallantry to the test. But Matta proceeded upon a wrong 
plan; he had conceived such an aversion for her husband, 
that he could not prevail upon himse'K to make the smallest 
advance towards his good graces. He was given to understand 
that he ought to begin by endeavouring to lull the dragon to 
sleep, before he could gain possession of the treasure ; but this 
was all to no purpose, though, at the same time, he could 
never see his mistress but in public. This made him impatient, 
and as he was lamenting his ill-fortune to her one day : "Have 
the goodness, madam," said he, " to let me know where you 
live : there is never a day that I do not call upon you, at least, 
three or four times, without ever being blessed with a sight of 
you." " I generally sleep at home," replied she, laughing ; 
" but I must tell you, that you will never find me there, if 
you do not first pay a visit to the Marquis : I am not mistress 
of the house. I do not tell you," continued she, " that he is 
a man whose acquaintance any one would very impatiently 
covet for his conversation : on the contrary, I agree that his 
humour is fantastical, and his manners not of the pleasing 
cast ; but there is nothing so savage and inhuman, which a 
little care, attention, and complaisance may not tame into 
docility. I must repeat to you some verses upon the subject : 
I have got them by heart, because they contain a little advice, 
which you may accommodate, if you please, to your own 
<jase." 



40 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

KONDEAU. 

Keep in mind these maxims rare, 
You who hope to win the fair ; 
Who are, or would esteemed be, 
The quintessence of gallantry. 

That fopp'ry, grinning, and grimace, 
And fertile store of common-place ; 
That oaths as false as dicers swear, 
And iv'ry teeth, and scented hair ; 
That trinkets, and the pride of dress, 
Can only give your scheme success. 

Keep in mind. 

Has thy charmer e'er an aunt 1 
Then learn the rules of woman's cant, 
And forge a tale, and swear you read it, 
Such as, save woman, none would credit : 
Win o'er her confidante and pages 
By gold, for this a golden age is ; 
And should it be her wayward fate. 
To be encumbered with a mate, 
A dull, old dotard should he be, 
That dulness claims thy courtesy. 

Keep in mind. 

" Truly," said Matta, " the song may say what it pleases, 
but I cannot put it in practice : your husband is far too exqui- 
site a monster for me. Why, what a plaguey odd ceremony 
do you require of us in this country, if we cannot pay our com- 
pliments to the wife without being in love with the husband!" 

The Marchioness was much offended at this answer ; and as 
she thought she had done enough in pointing out to him the 
path which would conduct him to success, if he had deserved 
it, she did not think it worth while to enter into any farther 
explanation ; since he refused to cede, for her sake, so trifling 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT, 41 

an objection : from this instant she resolved to have done with 
him. 

The Chevalier de Grammont had taken leave of his mistress 
nearly at the same time : the ardour of his pursuit was extin- 
guished. It was not that Mademoiselle de Saint G-ermain was 
less worthy than hitherto of his attentions : on the contrary her 
attractions visibly increased : she retired to her pillow with a 
thousand charms, and ever rose from it with additional beauty r 
the phrase of increasing in beauty as she increased in years 
seemed to have been purposely made for her. The Chevalier 
could not deny these truths, but yet he could not find his account 
in them : a little less merit, with a little less discretion, would 
have been more agreeable. He perceived that she attended 
to hun with pleasure, that she was diverted with his stories as 
much as he could wish, and that she received his billets and 
presents mthout scruple ; but then he also discovered that 
she did not msh to proceed any farther. He had exhausted 
every species of address upon her, and all to no purpose : her 
attendant was gained : her family, charmed with the music of 
his conversation and his great attention, were never happy 
without him : in short, he had reduced to practice the advice 
contained in the Marchioness's song, and everything conspired 
to deliver the little Saint Germain into his hands, if the little 
Saint Germain had herself been willing : but alas ! she was 
not inclined. It was in vain he told her the favour he desired 
would cost her nothing ; and that since these treasures were 
rarely comprised in the fortune a lady brings with her in 
marriage, she would never find any person, who, by unremit- 
ting tenderness, unwearied attachment, and inviolable secrecy,, 
would prove more worthy of them than himself. He then told 
her no husband was ever able to convey a proper idea of the 
sweets of love, and that nothing could be more different than 



42 MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

the passionate fondness of a lover, always tender, always affec- 
tionate, yet always respectful, and the careless indifference of 
B, husband. 

Mademoiselle de Saint Germain, not wishing to take the 
matter in a serious Hght, that she might not be forced to resent 
it, answered, that since it was generally the custom in her 
country to marry, she thought it was right to conform to it, 
without entering into the knowledge of those distinctions, and 
those marvellous particulars, which she did not very well un- 
derstand, and of wliich she did not wish to have any further 
explanation ; that she had submitted to listen to him this one 
time, but desired he would never speak to her again in the 
same strain, since such sort of conversation was neither enter- 
taining to her, nor could be serviceable to him. Though no 
one was ever more facetious than Mademoiselle de Saint Ger- 
main, she yet knew how to assume a very serious air, when- 
ever occasion required it. The Chevalier de Grammont soon 
saw that she was in earnest ; and finding it would cost him a 
great deal of time to effect a change in her sentiments, he was 
so far cooled in this pursuit, that he only made use of it to 
hide the designs he had upon the Marchioness de Senantes. 

He found this lady much disgusted at Matta's want of com- 
plaisance; and his seeming contempt for her erased every 
favourable impression which she had once entertained for him. 
While she was in this humour, the Chevalier told her that 
her resentment was just ; he exaggerated the loss which his 
friend had sustained; he told her that her charms were a thou- 
sand times superior to those of the little Saint Germain, and 
requested that favour for himself which his friend did not 
•deserve. He was soon favourably heard upon this topic; and 
as soon as they were agreed, they consulted upon two measures 
necessary to be taken, the one to deceive her husband, the 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 43 

other his friend, which was not very difficult : Matta was not 
-at all suspicious : and the stupid Senantes, towards whom the 
Chevalier had already behaved as Matta had refused to do, 
could not be easy without him. This was much more than 
was wanted ; for as soon as ever the Chevalier was with the 
Marchioness, her husband immediately joined them out of polite- 
ness ; and on no account would have left them alone together, 
for fear they should grow weary of each other without him. 

Matta, who all this time was entirely ignorant that he was 
disgraced, continued to serve his mistress in his own way. 
She had agreed with the Chevalier de Grammont, that to all 
appearance everything should be carried on as before; so that 
the court always believed that the Marchioness only thought 
of Matta, and that the Chevalier was entirely devoted to 
Mademoiselle de Saint Germain. 

There were very frequently little lotteries for trinkets : the 
Chevalier de Grammont always tried his fortune, and was 
sometimes fortunate ; and under pretence of the prizes he had 
won, he bought a thousand tilings which he indiscreetly gave 
to the Marchioness, and which she still more indiscreetly 
accepted : the little Saint Germain very seldom received any 
thing. There are meddling whisperers everywhere : remarks 
were made upon these proceedings ; and the same person that 
made them communicated them likewise to Mademoiselle de 
Saint Germain. She pretended to laugh, but in reality was 
piqued. It is a maxim religiously observed by the fair sex, to 
■envy each other those indulgences which themselves refuse. 
She took this very ill of the Marchioness. On the other hand, 
Matta was asked if he was not old enough to make his own pre- 
sents himself to the Marchioness de Senantes, without sending 
them by the Chevalier de Grammont. This roused him; for of 
himself, he woiild never have perceived it : his suspicions, how- 



44 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

ever, were but sligiit, and he was willing to have them removed. 
''I must confess," said he to the Chevalier de G-rammont, 
" that they make love here quite in a new style; a man serve.s 
here without reward : he addresses himself to the husband 
when he is in love with the wife, and makes presents to an- 
other man's mistress, to get into the good graces of his own. 

The Marchioness is much obliged to you for " " It is you 

who are obliged," replied the Chevalier, " since this was done 
on your account : I was ashamed to find you had never yet 
thought of presenting her with any trifling token of your 
attention : do you know that the people of this court have 
such extraordinary notions, as to think that it is rather owing 
to inadvertency that you never yet have had the spirit to 
make your mistress the smallest present ? For shame ! how 
ridiculous it is, that you can never think for yourself ?" 

Matta took this rebuke, without making any answer, being 
persuaded that he had in some measure deserved it : besides, 
he was neither sufficiently jealous, nor sufficiently amorous, 
to think any more of it ; however, as it was necessary for the 
Chevalier's affairs that Matta should be acquainted with the 
Marquis de Senantes, he plagued him so much about it, that at 
last he complied. His friend introduced him, and his mistress 
seemed pleased with this proof of complaisance, though she 
was resolved that he should gain nothing by it ; and the hus- 
band, being gratified with a piece of civility which he had 
long expected, determined, that very evening, to give them a 
supper at a little country seat of his, on the banks of the 
river, very' near the city. 

The Chevalier de Grammont answering for them both, 
accepted the offer ; and as this was the only one Matta would 
not have refused from the Marquis, he likewise consented. 
The Marquis came to convey them in his carriage at the hour 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 45 

appointed ; but he found only Matta. The Chevalier had 
engaged himself to play, on purpose that they might go with- 
out him: Matta was for waiting for him, so great was his 
fear of being left alone with the Marquis ; but the Chevalier 
having sent to desire them to go on before, and that he would 
be with them as soon as he had finished his game, poor Matta 
was obliged to set out with the man who, of all the world, 
was most offensive to him. It was not the Chevalier's inten- 
tion quickly to extricate Matta out of this embarrassment : 
he no sooner knew that they were gone, than he waited on 
the Marcliioness, under pretence of still finding her husband, 
that they might all go together to supper. 

The plot was in a fair way ; and as the Marchioness was of 
opinion that Matta's indifference merited no better treatment 
from her, she made no scruple of acting her part in it : she 
therefore waited for the Chevalier de Grammont with inten- 
tions so much the more favourable, as she had for a long time 
expected him, and had some curiosity to receive a visit from 
him in the absence of her husband. We may therefore sup- 
pose that this first opportunity would not have been lost, if 
Mademoiselle de Saint Germain had not unexpectedly come 
in, almost at the same time with the Chevalier. 

She was more handsome and more entertaining that day 
than she had ever been before; however, she appeared to them 
very ugly and very tiresome: she soon perceived that her 
company was disagreeable, and being determined that they 
should not be out of humour with her for nothing, after having 
passed above a long half hour in diverting herself with their 
uneasiness, and in playing a thousand monkey tricks, which 
she plainly saw could never be more unseasonable, she pulled 
off her hood, scarf, and all that part of her dress which ladies lay 
aside, when in a familiar manner they intend to pass the day 



46 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

anywhere. The Chevalier de Grammont cursed her in his 
heart, while she continued to torment him for being in such 
ill-humour in such good company : at last the Marchioness, 
who was as much vexed as he was, said rather drily that she 
was obliged to wait on her Eoyal Highness : Mademoiselle 
de Saint Germain told her that she would have the honour to 
accompany her, if it would not be disagreeable : she took not 
the smallest notice of her offer ; and the Chevalier, finding 
that it would be entirely useless to prolong his visit at that 
time, retired with a good grace. 

As soon as he had left the house, he sent one of his scouts 
to desire the Marquis to sit down to table with his company 
without waiting for him, because the game might not perhaps 
be finished as soon as he expected, but that he would be with 
him before supper was over. Having despatched this messen- 
ger, he placed a sentinel at the Marchioness's door, in hopes 
that the tedious Saint Germain might go out before her ; but 
this was in vain, for his spy came and told him, after an 
hour's impatience and suspense, that they were gone out to- 
gether. He found there was no chance of seeing her again 
that day, everything falling out contrary to his wishes ; he 
was forced therefore to leave the Marchioness, and go in quest 
of the Marquis. 

While these things were going on in the city, Matta was 
not much diverted in the country: as he was prejudiced 
against the Marquis, all that he said displeased him: he 
cursed the Chevalier heartily for the tete-a-tete which he had 
procured him; and he was upon the point of going away, 
when he found that he was to sit down to supper without 
any other company. 

However, as his host was very choice in his entertainments, 
and had the best wine and the best cook in all Piedmont, the 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 47 

sight of the first course appeased him ; and eating most vo- 
raciously, without paying any attention to the Marquis, he 
flattered himself that the supper would end without any dis- 
pute ; but he was mistaken. 

When the Chevalier de Grammont was at first endeavouring 
to bring about an intercourse between the Marquis and Matta, 
he had given a very advantageous character of the latter, to 
make the former more desirous of his acquaintance ; and in 
the display of a thousand other accomplishments, knowing 
what an infatuation the Marquis had for the very name of 
erudition, he assured him that Matta was one of the most 
learned men in Europe. 

The Marquis, therefore, from the moment they sat down to 
supper, had expected some stroke of learning from Matta, to 
bring his own into play ; but he was much out in his reckon- 
ing ; no one had read less, no one thought less, and no one 
had ever spoken so little at an entertainment as he had done : 
as he did not wish to enter into conversation, he opened his 
mouth only to eat, or ask for wine. 

The other, being offended at a silence which appeared to 
him affected, and wearied with having uselessly attacked him 
upon other subjects, thought he might get something out of 
him by changing the discourse of love and gallantry; and 
therefore, to begin the subject, he accosted him in this 
manner : 

" Since you are my wife's gallant " " I !" said Matta, who 

wished to carry it discreetly : " those who told you so, told a 
damned lie." " Zounds, sir," said the Marquis, " you speak 
in a tone which does not at all become you ; for I would have 
you to know, notwithstanding your contemptuous airs, that 
the Marchioness de Senantes is perhaps as worthy of your 
attentions as any of your French ladies, and that I have 



48 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

known some greatly your superiors, who have thought it an 
honour to serve her." " Very well," said Matta, " I think she 
is very deserving, and since you insist upon it, I am her ser- 
vant and gallant, to oblige you." 

" You think, perhaps," continued the other, " that the same 
custom prevails in this country as in your own, and that the 
ladies have lovers, with no other intentions than to grant 
them favours: undeceive yourseK if you please, and know, 
likewise, that even if such events were frequent in this court, 
I should not be at all uneasy." " Nothing can be more civil," 
said Matta ; " but wherefore would you not ?" " I will tell 
you why," replied he : "I am well acquainted with the affec- 
tion my wife entertains for me : I am acquainted with her 
discretion towards all the world; and, what is more, T am 
acquainted with my own merit." 

" You have a most uncommon acquaintance then," replied 
Matta ; " I congratulate you upon it ; I have the honour to 
drink it in a bumper." The Marquis pledged him ; but seeing 
that the conversation dropped on their ceasing to drink, after 
two or three healths, he wished to make a second attempt, 
and attack Matta on his strong side, that is to say, on his 
learning. 

He desired him, therefore, to tell him, at what time he 
thought the AUobroges came to settle in Piedmont. Matta, 
who wished him and his AUobroges at the devil, said, that 
it must be in the time of the civil wars. " I doubt that," 
said the other. "Just as you like," said Matta. "Under 
what consulate ?" replied the Marquis : " Under that of the 
League," said Matta, "when the Guises brought the Lans- 
quenets into Trance ; but what the devil does that signify ?" 

The Marquis was tolerably warm, and naturally savage, so 
that God knows how the conversation would have ended, if 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 49 

the Chevalier de Grammont had not unexpectedly come in to 
to appease them. It was some time before he could find out 
what their debate was ; for the one had forgotten the ques- 
tions, and the other the answers, which had disobliged him, in 
order to reproach the Chevalier with his eternal passion for 
play, which made him always uncertain. The Chevalier, who 
knew that he was still more culpable than they thought, bore 
it all with patience, and condemned himself more than they 
desired: this appeased them; and the entertainment ended 
with greater tranquillity than it had begun. The conversa- 
tion was again reduced to order ; but he could not enliven it 
as he usually did. He was in very ill humour, and as he 
pressed them every minute to rise from table, the Marquis 
was of opinion that he had lost a great deal. Matta said, on 
the contrary, that he had won ; but for want of precautions 
had made perhaps an unfortunate retreat ; and asked him if 
he had not stood in need of Serjeant La Place, vfith his am- 
buscade. 

This piece of history was beyond the comprehension of the 
Marquis, and being afraid that Matta might explain it, the 
Chevalier changed the discourse, and was for rising from 
table; but Matta would not consent to it. This effected a 
reconciliation between him and the Marquis, who thought 
this was a piece of civility intended for him ; however, it was 
not for him, but for his wine, to which Matta had taken a pro- 
digious liking. 

The Duchess, who knew the character of the Marquis, was 
charmed with the account which the Chevalier de Grammont 
gave her of the entertainment and conversation : she sent for 
Matta to know the truth of it from himself : he confessed, 
that before the Allobroges were mentioned the Marquis was 

4 



60 MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

for quarrelling with him, because he was not in love with his 
wife. 

Their acquaintance having begun in this manner, all the 
esteem which the Marquis had formerly expressed for the 
Chevalier seemed now directed towards Matta : he went every 
day to pay Matta a visit, and Matta was every day with his 
wife. This did not at all suit the Chevalier: he repented 
of his having chid Matta, whose assiduity now interrupted 
all his schemes; and the Marchioness was still more em- 
barrassed. Whatever wit a man may have, it will never please 
where his company is disliked ; and she repented that she 
had been formerly guilty of some trifling advances towards 
him. 

Matta began to find charms in her person, and might have 
found the same in her conversation, jf she had been inclined 
to display them ; but it is impossible to be in good humour 
with persons who thwart our designs. Wliile his passion in- 
creased, the Chevalier de Grammont was solely occupied in 
endeavouring to find out some method, by which he might 
accomplish his intrigue ; and this was the stratagem which he 
put in execution to clear the coast, by removing, at one and 
the same time, both the lover and the husband. 

He told Matta, that they ought to invite the Marquis to 
supper at their lodgings, and he would take upon himself to 
provide everything proper for the occasion. Matta desired to 
know if it was to play at quinze, and assured him that he 
should take care to render abortive any intention he might 
have to engage in play, and leave him alone with the greatest 
blockhead in all Europe. The Chevalier de Grammont did 
not entertain any such thought, being persuaded that it would 
be impossible to take advantage of any such opportunity, in 
whatever manner he might take his measures ; and that they 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 51 

would seek for him in every corner of the city rather than 
allow him the least repose : his whole attention was therefore 
■employed in rendering the entertainment agreeable, in finding 
out means of prolonging it, in order ultimately to kindle some 
dispute between the Marquis and Matta. For this purpose 
he put himself in the best humour in the world, and the wine 
produced the same effect on the rest of the company. 

The Chevalier de Grammont expressed his concern, that he 
had not been able to give the Marquis a little concert, as he 
had intended in the morning ; for the musicians had been all 
pre-engaged. Upon this the Marquis undertook to have them 
at his country-house the following evening, and imrited the 
same company to sup with him there. Matta asked what the 
devil they wanted with music, and maintained that it was of 
no use on such occasions but for women who had something 
to say to their lovers, while the fiddles prevented them from 
being overheard, or for fools who had nothing to say when 
the music ended. They ridiculed all his arguments: the 
party was fixed for the next day, and the music was voted 
by the majority of voices. The Marquis, to console Matta, as 
well as to do honour to the entertainment, toasted a great 
many healths : Matta was more ready to listen to his argu- 
ments on this topic than in a dispute; but the Chevalier, 
perceiving that a little would irritate them, desired nothing 
more earnestly than to see them engaged in some new con- 
troversy. It was in vain that he had from time to time 
started some subject of discourse with this intention; but 
having luckily thought of asking what was his lady's maiden 
name, Senantes, who was a great genealogist, as all fools are 
who have good memories, immediately began by tracing out 
her family, by an endless confused string of lineage. The 
Chevalier seemed to listen to him with great attention ; and 

4—2 



52 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

perceiving that Matta was almost out of patience, lie desired 
Mm to attend to what the Marquis was saying, for that 
nothing could be more entertaining. " All this may be very 
true," said Matta ; " but for my part, I must confess, if I were 
married, I should rather choose to inform myself who was the 
real father of my children, than who were my wife's grand- 
fathers." The Marquis, smiling at this rudeness, did not leave 
off until he had traced back the ancestors of his spouse, from 
line to line, as far as Yolande de Senantes: after this he 
offered to prove, in less than half an hour, that the Gram- 
monts came originally from Spain. " Very well," said Matta, 
" and pray what does it signify to us from whence the Gram- 
monts are descended ? Do not you know, sir, that it is 
better to know nothing at all, than to know too much ?" 

The Marquis maintained the contrary with great warmth, 
and was preparing a formal argument to prove that an igno- 
rant man is a fool ; but the Chevalier de Grammont, who was 
thoroughly acquainted with Matta saw very clearly that he 
would send the logician to the devil before he should arrive 
at the conclusion of his syllogism : for which reason, inter- 
posing as soon as they began to raise their voices, he told 
them it was ridiculous to quarrel about an affair in itseK so 
trivial, and treated the matter in a serious light, that it might 
make the greater impression. Thus supper terminated peace- 
ably, owing to the care he took to suppress all disputes, and 
to substitute plenty of wine in their stead. 

The next day Matta went to the chase, the Chevalier de 
Grammont to the bagnio, and the Marquis to his country 
house. While the latter was making the necessary prepara- 
tions for his guests, not forgetting the music, and Matta 
pursuing his game to get an appetite, the ChevaHer was 
meditating on the execution of his project. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 53 

As soon as lie had regulated his plan of operations in his 
own mind, he privately sent anonymous intelligence to the 
officer of the guard at the palace that the Marquis de Senantes 
had had some words with Monsieur de Matta the preceding 
night at supper ; that the one had gone out in the morning, 
And the other could not be found in the city. 

Madame Eoyale, alarmed at this advice, immediately sent 
for the Chevalier de Grammont : he appeared surprised when 
her highness mentioned the affair : he confessed, indeed, that 
some high words had passed between them, but that he did 
not believe either of them would have remembered them the 
next day. He said that if no mischief had yet taken place, 
the best way would be to secure them both until the morning, 
A^nd that if they could be found, he would undertake to recon- 
cile them, and to obliterate all grievances : in this there was 
no great difficulty. On inquiry at the Marquis's they were 
informed that he was gone to his country-house : there cer- 
tainly he was, and there they found him ; the officer put him 
under an arrest, without assigning any reason for so doing, 
and left him in very gTeat surprise. 

Immediately upon Matta's return from hunting, her Eoyal 
Highness sent the same officer to desire him te-give her his 
word that he would not stir out that evening. This compli- 
ment very much surprised him, more particularly as no reason 
w^as assigned for it. He was expected at a good entertainment, 
he was dying with hunger, and nothing appeared to him more 
unreasonable than to oblige him to stay at home, in a situation 
like the present ; but he had given his word, and not knowing 
to what this might tend, liis only resource was to send for his 
friend ; but his friend did not come to him until his return 
from the country. He had there found the Marquis in the 
midst of his fiddlers, and very much vexed to find himseK a 



54 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

prisoner iii liis own house on account of Matta, whom he wa& 
waiting for in order to feast him : he complained of him bit- 
terly to the Chevalier de Grammont : he said that he did not 
believe that he had offended hun ; but that, since he was very 
desirous of a quarrel, he desired the Chevalier to acquaint him, 
if he felt the least displeasure on the present occasion, he 
should, on the very first opportunity, receive what is called 
satisfaction. The Chevalier de Grammont assured him that 
no such thought had ever entered the mind of Matta ; that on 
the contrary, he knew that he very greatly esteemed him ; 
that all this could alone arise from the extreme tenderness of 
his lady, who, being alarmed upon the report of the servants 
who waited at table, must have gone to her Eoyal Highness, 
in order to prevent any unpleasant consequences; that he 
thought this the more probable, as he had often told the Mar- 
chioness, when speaking of Matta, that he was the best 
swordsman in France ; for, in truth, the poor gentleman had 
never fought without having the misfortune of killing his man. 

The Marquis, being a little pacified, said he was very much 
obliged to him, that he would severely chide his wife for her 
unseasonable tenderness, and that he was extremely desirous 
of again enjoying the pleasure of his dear friend Matta's com- 
pany. 

The Chevalier de Grammont assured him that he would 
use all his endeavours for that purpose, and at the same time 
gave strict charge to his guard not to let him escape without 
orders from the Court, as he seemed fully bent upon fighting, 
and they would be responsible for him : there was no occasion 
to say more to have him strictly watched, though there was 
no necessity for it. 

One being thus safely lodged, his next step was to secure 
the other : he returned immediately to town : and as soon as 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 55 

Matta saw him, " What the devil," said he, " is the meaning 
of this farce which I am obliged to act ? for my part, I cannot 
understand the foolish customs of this country ; how comes it 
that they make me a prisoner upon my parole ?" " How comes 
it ?" said the Chevalier de Grammont, " it is because you your- 
self are far more unaccountable than all their customs ; you 
cannot help disputing with a peevish fellow, whom you ought 
only to laugh at ; some of&cious footman has no doubt been 
talking of your last night's dispute ; you were seen to go out 
of town in the morning, and the Marquis soon after ; was not 
this sufficient to make her Eoyal Highness think herself obliged 
to take these precautions ? The Marquis is in custody ; they 
have only required your parole ; so far, therefore, from taking 
the affair in the sense you do, I should send very humbly to 
thank her Highness for the kindness she has manifested to- 
wards you in putting you under arrest, since it is only on 
your account that she interests herself in the affair. I shall 
take a walk to the palace, where I will endeavour to unravel 
this mystery ; in the mean time, as there is but little proba- 
bility that the matter should be settled this evening, you 
would do well to order supper ; for I shall come back to you 
immediately." 

Matta charged him not to fail to express to her Eoyal High- 
ness the grateful sense he had of her favour, though in truth 
he as little feared the Marquis as he loved him ; and it is im- 
possible to express the degree of his fortitude in stronger 
terms. 

The Chevalier de Grammont returned in about half an hour, 
with two or three gentlemen whom Matta had got acquainted 
with at the chase, and who, upon the report of the quarrel, 
waited upon him, and each offered him separately his services 
against the unassisted and pacific Marquis. Matta having re- 



56 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

turned them his thanks, insisted upon their staying supper, 
and put on his robe de chanibre. 

As soon as the Chevalier de Grammont perceived that every 
thing coincided with his wishes, and that towards the end of 
the entertainment the toasts went merrily round, he knew he 
was sure of his man till next day : then taking him aside with 
the permission of the company, and making use of a false 
confidence in order to disguise a real treachery, he acquainted 
him, after having sworn him several times to secrecy, that he 
had at last prevailed upon the little Saint Germain to grant 
him an interview that night ; for which reason he would take 
his leave, under pretence of going to play at Court ; he there- 
fore desired him fully to satisfy the company that he would 
not have left them on any other account, as the Piedmontese 
are naturally mistrustful. Matta promised he would manage 
this point with discretion ; that he would make an apology 
for him, and that there was no occasion for his personally 
taking leave : then, after congratulating him upon the happy 
posture of his affairs, he sent him away with all the expedition 
and secrecy imaginable ; so great was his fear lest his friend 
should lose the present opportunity. 

Matta then returned to the company, much pleased with 
the confidence which had been placed in him, and with the 
share he had in the success of this adventure. He put him- 
self into the best humour imaginable in order to divert the 
attention of his guests ; he severely satirised those, whose rage 
for gaming induced them to sacrifice to it every other consi- 
deration ; he loudly ridiculed the folly of the Chevalier upon 
this article, and secretly laughed at the credulity of the Pied- 
montese, whom he had deceived with so much ingenuity. 

It was late at night before the company broke up, and 
Matta w^ent to bed, very well satisfied with what he had done 



» 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 57 

for his friend ; and, if we may credit appearances, this friend 
enjoyed the fruit of his perfidy. The amorous Marchioness 
received him like one who wished to enhance the value of the 
favour she bestowed ; her charms were far from being neg- 
lected ; and if there are any circumstances in which we may 
detest the traitor while we profit by the treason, this was not 
one of them ; and however successful the Chevalier de Gram- 
mont was in his intrigues, it was not owing to him that the 
contrary was not believed ; but, be that as it may, being con- 
vinced that in love whatever is gained by address is gained 
fairly, it does not appear that he ever showed the smallest 
degree of repentance for this trick. But it is now time for us 
to take him from the court of Savoy, to see him shine in that 
of France. 



58 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 



CHAPTEK V. 

The Chevalier de Grammont, upon his return to France, sus- 
tained, with the greatest success, the reputation he had 
acquired abroad: alert in play, active and ^dgilant in love; 
sometimes successful, and always feared, in his intrigues ; in 
war alike prepared for the events of good or ill fortune; 
possessing an inexhaustible fund of pleasantry in the former, 
and full of expedients and dexterity in the latter. 

Zealously attached to the Prince de Conde * from inclina- 

* Louis of Bourbon, Duke d'Enghien, afterwards, bj the death of his 
father in 1656, Prince de Cond^, Of this great man Cardinal de Petz 
says, " He was born a general, which never happened but to Csesar, to 
Spinola, and to himself. He has equalled the first : he has surpassed 
the second. Intrepidity is one of the least shining strokes in his charac- 
ter. Nature had formed him with a mind as great as his courage. 
Fortune, in setting him out in a time of wars, has given this last a 
full extent to work in : his birth, or rather his education, in a family 
devoted and enslaved to the court, has kept the first within too straight 
bounds. He was not taught time enough the great and general maxims 
which alone are able to form men to think always consistently. He 
never had time to learn them of himseK, because he was prevented 
from his youth, by the great affairs that fell unexpectedly to his share, 
and by the continual success he met with. This defect in him was the 
cause, that with the soul in the world the least inclined to evil, he has 
committed injuries ; that with the heart of an Alexander, he has, like 
him, had his failings ; that with a wonderful understanding, he has 




Tn3il^^€:E DJE CO^^T^IE 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GKAMMONT. 59 

tion, he was a witness, and, if we may be allowed to say it, 
his companion, in the glory he had acquired at the celebrated 
battles of Lens, Norlinguen, and Fribourg ;* and the details 
he so frequently gave of them were far from diminishing their 
lustre. 

So long as he had only some scruples of conscience, and a 
thousand interests to sacrifice, he quitted aU to follow a man, 
whom strong motives and resentments, which in some manner 
appeared excusable, had withdrawn from the paths of recti- 
tude : he adhered to him in his first disgrace, with a constancy 
of which there are few examples ; but he could not submit to 
the injuries wMch he afterwards received, and which such an 

acted imprudently ; that having all the qualities which the Duke 
Francis of Guise had, he has not served the state in some occasions so 
well as he ought; and that having likewise having all the quaHties of the 
Duke Henry of Guise, he has not carried faction so far as he might. 
He could not come up to the height of his merit; which, though it be a 
defect, must yet be owned to be very uncommon, and only to be found in 
persons^^of the greatest abilities." Memoirs, vol. i., p. 248, edit. 1723. 
He retired from the army, scon after the death of Turenne, to Chantilly, 
" from whence," says Voltaire, " he very rai-ely came to Versailles, to 
behold his glory eclipsed in a place where the courtier never regards 
anything but favour. He passed the remainder of his days, tormented 
with the gout, relieving the severity of his pains, and employing the leisure 
of his retreat, in the conversation of men of genius of all kinds, with 
which France then abounded. He was woi-thy of their conversation ; 
as he was not unacquainted with any of those arts and sciences in which 
they shone. He continued to be admired even in his retreat ; but at 
last that devouring fire, which, in his youth, had made him a hero, im- 
petuous, and full of passions, having consumed the strength of his 
body, which was naturally rather agile than robust, he declined before 
his time ; and the strength of his mind decaying with that of his body, 
there remained nothing of the great Conde during the last two years of 
his life. He died in 1686." Age of Lewis XIV., chap. 11. He was 
aged 66 years. 

" These were fought in the years 1648, 1645, and 1644. 



60 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

inviolable attacliment so little merited. Therefore, without 
fearing any reproach for a conduct which sufficiently justified 
itself, as he had formerly deviated from his duty by entering 
into the service of the Prince de Conde, he thought he had a 
right to leave him to return again to his duty. 

His peace was soon made at Court, wliere many, far more 
culpable than himself, were immediately received into favour, 
when they desired it ; for the queen,* still terrified at the 
dangers into which the civil wars had plunged the State at 
the commencement of her regency, endeavoured by lenient 
measures to conciliate the minds of the people. The policy of 
the minister-)- was neither sanguinary nor revengeful : his 

* Anne of Anstria, daughter of Philip III. of Spain, widow of Louis 
XIII., to whom she was married in 1615, and mother of Louis XIV. 
She died in 1666. Cardinal de Eetz speaks of her in the following 
terms. — " The queen had more than anybody whom I ever knew, of 
that sort of wit which was necessary for her not to appear a fool to 
those that did not know her. She had in her more of harshness than 
haughtiness ; more of haughtiness than of greatness ; more of outward 
appearance than reality ; more regard to money than liberality ; more 
of liberality than of self-interest ; more of self-interest than dis- 
interestedness : she was more tied to persons by habit than by affec- 
tion; she had more of insensibility than of cruelty; she had a better 
memory for injuries than for benefits ; her intention towards piety was 
greater than her piety ; she had in her more of obstinacy than of firm- 
ness ; and more incapacity than of all the rest which I mentioned 
before." Memoirs, vol. i., p. 247. 

t Cardinal Mazarin, who, during a few of the latter years of his life, 
governed France. He died at Yincennes the 9th of March 1661, aged 
59 years, leaving as heir to his name and property the Marquis de la 
Meilleray, who married his niece, and took the title of Duke of Maza- 
rin. On his death, Louis XIV, and the court appeared in mourning, 
an honour not common, though Henry IV. had shewn it to the memory 
of Gabrielle d'Estre^s. Voltaire, who appears unwilling to ascribe much 
ability to the cardinal, takes an opportunity, on occasion of his death, to 
make the following observation. — "We cannot refrain from combatingthe 
opinion, which supposes prodigious abilities, and a genius almost divine, 




JkKV)JNKl. ^lASATRIPTE 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 61 

favourite maxim was rather to appease the minds of the dis- 
contented by lenity, than to have recourse to violent measures ; 
to be content with losing nothing by the war, without being 
at the expense of gaining any advantage from the enemy ; to 
suffer his character to be very severely handled, provided he 
could amass much wealth, and to spin out the minority to the 
greatest possible extent. 

His avidity to heap up riches was not alone confined to the 
thousand different means, with which he was furnished by his 
authority, and the situation in which he was placed : his whole 
pursuit was gain : he was naturally fond of gaming ; but he 
only played to enrich himself, and therefore, whenever he 
found an opportunity, he cheated. 

As he found the Chevalier de Grammont possessed a great 
deal of wit, and a great deal of money, he was a man accord- 
ing to his "wishes, and soon became one of his set. The Cheva- 
lier soon perceived the artfulness and dishonesty of the Car- 
dinal, and thought it was allowable in him to put in practice 
those talents which lie had received from nature, not only in 
his own defence, but even to attack him whenever an oppor- 
tunity offered. This would certainly be the place to mention 
these particulars ; but who can describe them with such ease 
and elegance as may be expected by those who have heard his 
own relation of them ? Vain is the attempt to endeavour to 
transcribe these entertaining anecdotes : their spirit seems to 

in those who have governed empire?? with some degree oF success. It 
is not a superior penetration that makes statesmen ; it is their charac- 
ter. All men, how inconsiderable soever their share of sense may be, 
see their own interest nearly alike. A citizen of Bern or Amsterdam, 
in this respect, is equal to Sejanus, Ximenes, Buckingham, Eichelieu, or 
Mazarin ; but our conduct and our enterprises depend absolutely on 
our natural dispositions, and our success depends upon fortune." Age 
of Louis XIV., chap. 5. 



62 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

evaporate upon paper ; and in whatever light they are exposed 
the delicacy of their colouring and their beauty is lost. 

It is, then, enough to say, that upon all occasions where ad- 
dress was reciprocally employed, the Chevalier gained the 
advantage ; and that if he paid his court badly to the minis- 
ter, he had the consolation to find, that those who suffered 
themselves to be cheated, in the end gained no great advan- 
tage from their complaisance ; for they always continued in 
an abject submission, while the Chevalier de Grammont, on a 
thousand different occasions, never put himself under the least 
restraint. Of which the following is one instance : 

The Spanish army, commanded by the Prince de Cond^ and 
the archduke,* besieged Arras. The Court was advanced as 
far as Peronne.-f* The enemy, by the capture of this place, would 
have procured a reputation for their army of which they were 
in great need ; as the French, for a considerable time past, 
had evinced a superiority in every engagement. 

The Prince supported a tottering party, as far as their usual 
inactivity and irresolution permitted him ; but as in the events 
of war it is necessary to act independently on some occasions, 
which, if once suffered to escape, can never be retrieved ; for 
want of this power it frequently happened that his great abili- 
ties were of no avail. The Spanish infantry had never re- 
covered itself since the battle of Eocroy ; J and he who had 
ruined them by that victory, by fighting against them, was the 
only man who now, by commanding their army, was capable 
of repairing the mischief he had done them. But the jealousy 

* Leopold, brotlier of the Emperor Ferdinand the III. 

t A little but strong town, standing among marshes on the river 
Somme, in Picardy. 

:j: This famous battle was fought and won 19th May, 1643, five days 
after the death of Louis XIII. 



MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 63 

of the generals, and the distrust attendant upon their counsels, 
tied up his hands. 

Nevertheless, the siege of Arras* was vigorously carried on. 
The Cardinal was very sensible how dishonourable it would 
be to suffer this place to be taken under his nose, and almost 
in sight of the king. On the other hand, it was very hazard- 
ous to attempt its reH|f, the Prince de Conde being a man 
who never neglected the smallest precaution for the security 
of his lines ; and if lines are attacked and not forced, the 
greatest danger threatens the assailants. For, the more furious 
the assault, the greater is the disorder in the retreat ; and no 
man in the world knew so well as the Prince de Conde how 
to make the best use of an advantage. The army, commanded 
by Monsieur de Turenne, was considerably weaker than that 
of the enemy ; it was, likewise, the only resource they had to 
depend upon. If this army was defeated, the loss of Arras 
was not the only misfortune to be dreaded. 

The Cardinal, whose genius was happily adapted to such 
junctures, where deceitful negotiations could extricate him out 
of difficulties, was filled with terror at the sight of imminent 
danger, or of a decisive event : he was of opinion to lay siege 

* Voltaire observes, that it was the fortune of Turenne and Conde to 
be always victorious when they fought at the head of the French, and 
to be vanquished when they commanded the Spaniards. This was 
Condi's fate before Arras, August 25, 1654, when he and the archduke 
besieged that city. Turenne attacked them in their camp, and forced 
their lines : the troops of the archduke were cut to pieces ; and Cond^, 
with two regiments of French and Lorrainers, alone sustained the efforts 
of Turenne's army ; and, while the archduke was flying, he defeated 
the Marshal de Hoquincourt, repulsed the Marshal de la Fert^, 
and retreated victoriously himself, by covering the retreat of the 
vanquished Spaniards. The king of Spain, in his letter to him after 
this engagement, had these words: " I have been informed that every- 
thing was lost, and that you have recovered everything." 



64 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

to some other place, the capture of which might prove an in- 
demnification for the loss of Arras ; but Monsieur de Turenne, 
who was altogether of a different opinion from the Cardinal, 
resolved to march towards the enemy, and did not acquaint 
him with his intentions until he was upon his march. The 
courier arrived in the midst of his distress, and redoubled 
Jus apprehensions and alarms ; but there was then no 
remedy. 

The Marshal, whose great reputation had gained him the 
confidence of the troops, had determined upon his measures 
before an express order from the Court could prevent him. 
This was one of those occasions in which the difficulties you 
encounter heighten the glory of success. Though the general's 
capacity, in some measure, afforded comfort to the Court, they 
nevertheless were upon the eve of an event, which in one 
way or other must terminate both their hopes and their fears : 
while the rest of the courtiers were giving various opinions 
concerning the issue, the Chevalier de Grammont determined 
to be an eye-witness of it; a resolution which gTeatly sur- 
prised the court; for those who had seen as many actions 
as he had, seemed to be exempted from such eagerness; 
but it was in vain that his friends opposed his resolu- 
tions. 

The king was pleased with his intention ; and the queen 
appeared no less satisfied. He assured her that he would 
bring her good news ; and she promised to embrace him, if he 
was as good as his word. The Cardinal made the same 
promise : to the latter, however, he did not pay much atten- 
tion; yet he believed it sincere, because the keeping of it 
would cost him nothing. 

He set out in the dusk of the evening with Caseau, whom 
Monsieur de Turenne had sent express to their majesties. 




JAMIE S X)IJKE OIF X©]R]K:% 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 65 

The Duke of York,* and the Marquis d'Humi^res,-|- com- 
manded under the Marshal : the latter was upon duty when 
the Chevalier arrived, it being scarce daylight. The Duke of 
York did not at first recollect him ; but the Marquis d'Hu- 
mieres, running to him with open arms, " I thought," said he, 
" if any man came from court to pay us a visit upon such an 
occasion as this, it would be the Chevalier de Grammont. 
Well," continued he, " what are they doing at Peronne ?" 
"They are in great consternation," replied the Chevalier. 
"And what do they think of us?" "They think," said he, 
" that if you beat the Prince, you will do no more than your 
duty ; if you are beaten, they will think you fools and mad- 
men, thus to have risked everything, without considering the 
consequences." "Truly," said the Marquis, "you bring us 
very comfortable news. Will you now go to Monsieur de 
Turenne's quarters, to acquaint him with it; or will you 
choose rather to repose yourself in mine ? for you have been 
riding post all last night, and perhaps did not experience 
much rest in the preceding." " Where have you heard that 
the Chevalier de Grammont had ever any occasion for sleep ?" 
replied he: "Only order me a horse, that I may have the 
honour to attend the Duke of York ; for, most likely, he is 
not in the field so early, except to visit some posts." 

The advanced guard was only at cannon shot from that of 
the enemy. As soon as they arrived there, " I should like," 

* Priorato, in his Memoirs of Cardinal Mazarin, mentions other 
Englishmen besides the Duke of York being present ; as Lords Gerrard, 
Barclay, and Jermyn, with others. Memoirs, 12mo, 1673, tome i., 
part 3, p. 365. 

•f Louis de Ore vans, Marechal of France. He died 1694. Voltaire 
says of him, that he was the first who, at the siege of Arras, in 1658, 
was served in silver in the trenches, and had ragouts and entremets 
served up to his table. 

5 



66 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

said the Chevalier de Grammont, " to advance as far as the 
sentry which is posted on that eminence : I have some friends 
and acquaintance in their army, whom I should wish to in- 
quire after: I hope the Duke of York will give me per- 
mission." At these words he advanced. The sentry, seeing 
him come forward directly to his post, stood upon his guard : 
the Chevalier stopped as soon as he was within shot of him. 
The sentry answered the sign which was made to him, and 
made another to the officer, who had begun to advance as 
soon as he had seen the Chevalier come forward, and was 
soon up with him ; but seeing the Chevalier de Grammont 
alone, he made no difficulty to let him approach. He desired 
leave of this officer to inquire . after some relations he had in 
their army, and at the same time asked if the Duke d'Arscot 
was at the siege. " Sir," said he, " there he is, just alighted 
under those trees, which you see on the left of our grand 
guard: it is hardly a minute since he was here with the 
Prince d'Aremberg, his brother, the Baron de Limbec, and 
Louvigny." " May I see them upon parole ?" said the Cheva- 
lier. " Sir," said he, " if I were allowed to quit my post, I 
would do myseK tlie honour of accompanying you thither ; 
but I will send to acquaint them, that the Chevalier de Gram- 
mont desires to speak to them :" and, after having despatched 
one of his guard towards them, he returned. " Sir," said the 
Chevalier de Grammont, " may I take the liberty to inquire 
how I came to be known to you ?" " Is it possible," said the 
other, " that the Chevalier de Grammont should forget La 
Motte, who had the honour to serve so long in his regiment ?" 
"What ! is it you, my good friend. La Motte ? Truly, I was 
to blame for not remembering you, though you are in a dress 
very different from that which I first saw you in at Bruxelles, 
when you taught the Duchess of Guise to dance the triolets : 




Ui^i.Fm lul. J- 



TjRTLrr 'i::^ D) - a.]]^ie,mb 'f. -b. j^ 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GKAMMONT. 67 

and I am afraid your affairs are not in so flourishing a con- 
dition as they were the campaign after I had given you the 
company you mention." They were talking in this manner, 
when the Duke d'Arscot, followed by the gentlemen above 
mentioned, came up on full gallop. The Chevalier de Gram- 
mont was saluted by the whole company before he could say 
a word. Soon after arrived an immense number of others of 
his acquaintance, with many people, out of curiosity, on both 
sides, who, seeing him upon the eminence, assembled together 
with the greatest eao-erness ; so that the two armies, without 
■design, without truce, and without fraud, were going to join 
in conversation, if, by chance, Monsieur de Turenne had not 
perceived it at a distance. The sight surprised him: he 
hastened that way ; and the Marquis d'Humieres acquainted 
him with the arrival of the Chevalier de Grammont, who 
wished to speak to the sentry before he went to the head- 
quarters : he added, that he could not comprehend how the 
devil he had managed to assemble both armies around him, 
for it was hardly a minute since he had left him. " Truly," 
said Monsieur de Turenne, " he is a very extraordinary man ; 
but it is only reasonable that he should let us now have 
a little of his company, since he has paid his first visit to the 
enemy." At these words he despatched an aide-de-camp, to 
recal the of&cers of his army, and to acquaint the Chevalier 
de Grammont with his impatience to see him. 

This order arrived at the same time, with one of the same 
nature, to the enemy's of&cers. The Prince de Conde, being 
informed of this peaceable interview, was not the least sur- 
prised at it, when he heard that it was occasioned by the 
arrival of the Chevalier de Grammont. He only gave Lussan 
orders to recal the officers, and to desire the Chevalier to meet 
him at the same place the next day; which the Chevalier 

6—2 



6S MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

promised to do, provided Monsieur de Turenne should ap- 
prove of it, as lie made no doubt he would. 

His reception in the king's army was equally agreeable as 
that which he had experienced from the enemy. Monsieur 
de Turenne esteemed him no less for his frankness than for 
the poignancy of his wit : he took it very kindly that he was 
the only courtier who came to see him in a time so critical as 
the present: the questions which he asked him about the 
court were not so much for information, as to divert himself 
with his manner of relating their different apprehensions and 
alarms. The Chevalier de Grammont advised him to beat 
the enemy, if he did not choose to be answerable for an en- 
terprise which he had undertaken without consulting the 
Cardinal. Monsieur de Turenne promised him he would 
exert himself to the utmost to follow his advice, and assured 
him, that if he succeeded, he would make the queen keep her 
word with him ; and concluded with saying, that he was not 
sorry the Prince de Conde had expressed a desire to see him. 
His measures were taken for an attack upon the lines: on 
this subject he discoursed in private with the Chevalier de 
Grammont, and concealed nothing from him except the time 
of execution : but this was all to no purpose ; for the Cheva- 
lier had seen too much, not to judge, from his own know- 
ledge, and the observations he had made, that from the situa- 
tion of the army, the attack could be no longer deferred. 

He set out the next day for his rendezvous, attended by a 
trumpet, and found the Prince at the place which Monsieur 
de Lussan had described to him the evening before. As soon 
as he alighted : " Is it possible," said the Prince, embracing 
him, " that this can be the Chevalier de Grammont, and that 
I should see him in the contrary party ? " " It is you, my 
lord, whom I see there," replied the ChevaKer, " and I refer 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 69 

it to yourself, whether it was the fault of the Chevalier cle 
Grammont, or your own, that we now embrace different in- 
terests." " I must confess," said the Prince, " that if there 
are some who have abandoned me like base ungrateful 
wretches, you have left me, as I left myseK, like a man of 
honour, who thinks himself in the right : but let us forget all 
cause of resentment, and tell me what was your motive for 
coming here, you, whom I thought at Peronne with the 
court." " Must I tell you ?" said he : " why, faith then, I 
came to save your life. I know that you cannot help being 
in the midst of the enemy in a day of battle ; it is only 
necessary for your horse to be shot under you, and to be taken 
in arms, to meet with the same treatment from this Cardinal, 
as your uncle Montmorency"^ did from the other. I come, 
therefore, to hold a horse in readiness for you, in case of a 
similar misfortune, that you may not lose your head." " It 
is not the first time," said the Prince, smiling, "that you 
have rendered me this service, though the being taken 
prisoner at that time could not have been so dangerous to 
me as now." 

From this conversation, they passed to more entertaining 
subjects. The Prince asked him many questions concerning 
the court, the ladies, play, and about his amours ; and return- 
ing insensibly to the present situation of affairs, the Chevalier 
having inquired after some of&cers of his acquaintance, who 
had remained with him, the Prince told him that if he chose, 
he might go to the lines, where he would have an opportunity 
not only of seeing those whom he inquired after, but likewise 
the disposition of the quarters and entrenchments. To this he 

* Henry, Duke of Montmorency, who was taken prisoner first Sep- 
tember, 1692, and had his head struck off at Toulouse in the month 
of November following. 



70 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

consented, and the Prince having shown him all the works 
and attended him back to their rendezvous, " Well, Chevalier, 
said he, " when do you think we shall see you again ?" " Faith," 
replied he, "you have used me so handsomely, that I shall 
conceal nothing from you. Hold yourself in readiness an hour 
before daybreak ; for, you may depend upon it, we shall attack 
you to-morrow morning. I would not have acquainted you 
with this, perhaps, had I been entrusted with the secret, but,, 
nevertheless, in the present case you may believe me." " You 
are still the same man," said the Prince, again embracing 
him. The Chevalier returned to Monsieur de Turenne's camp 
towards night; every preparation was then making for the 
attack of the lines, and it was no longer a secret among the 
troops. 

" Well, Monsieur le Chevalier, were they all very glad ta 
see you ?" said ]\Ionsieur de Turenne ; " the Prince, no doubt^ 
received you with the greatest kindness, and asked a great 
number of questions ?" " He has shown me all the civility 
imaginable," replied the Chevalier ; " and, to convince me lie 
did not take me for a spy, he led me round the lines and en- 
trenchments, and showed me the preparations he had made for 
your reception." " And what is his opinion ?" said the Mar- 
shal. " He is persuaded that you will attack him to-night, 
or to-morrow by daybreak ; for you great captains," continued 
the Chevalier, " see through each other's designs in a wonder- 
ful manner." 

Monsieur de Turenne, with pleasure, received this commen- 
dation from a man who was not indiscriminately accustomed 
to bestow praise. He communicated to him the disposition of 
the attack ; and at the same time acquainted him, that he was 
very happy that a man who had seen so many actions was ta 
be present at this ; and that he esteemed it no small advan- 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 71 

tage to have tlie benefit of his advice, but as he believed that 
the remaining part of the night would be hardly sufficient for 
his i;ppose, after having passed the former without any re- 
freshment, he consigned him to the Marquis d'Humik^es. who 
provided him with a supper and a lodging. 

The next day the lines of Arras were attacked, wherein 
Monsieur de Turenne, being victorious, added additional lustre 
to his former glory ; and the Prince de Conde, though van- 
quished, lost nothing of his former reputation. 

There are so many accounts of this celebrated battle, that to 
mention it here would be altogether superfluous. The Cheva- 
lier de Grammont, who, as a volunteer, was permitted to go into 
every part, has given a better description of it than any other 
person. Monsieur de Turenne reaped great advantage from 
that activity which never forsook the Chevalier either in peace 
or war ; and that presence of mind which enabled him to carry 
orders, as coming from the general, so very apropos, that 
Monsieur de Turenne, otherwise very particular in such mat- 
ters, thanked him, when the battle was over, in the presence 
of all his officers, and despatched him to court with the first 
news of his success. 

All that is generally necessary in these expeditions, is to be 
accustomed to hard riding, and to be well provided with fresh 
horses, but he had a great many other obstacles to surmount. 
In the first place, the parties of the enemy were dispersed over 
all the country, and obstructed his passage. Then he had 
to prepare against greedy and officious courtiers, who, on 
such occasions, post themselves in all the avenues, in order 
to cheat the poor courier out of his news. However, his 
address preserved him from the one, and deceived the 
others. 

He had taken eight or ten troopers, commanded by an 



72 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

officer of his acquaintance, to escort him half way to Bapaume * 
being persuaded that the greatest danger would lie between 
the camp and the first stage. He had not proceeded a league 
before he was convinced of the truth of what he suspected, and 
turning to the officer who followed him closely, " If you are 
not well mounted," said he, " I would advise you to return to 
the camp ; for my part, I shall set spurs to my horse, and make 
the best of my way." " Sir," said the officer, " I hope I shall 
be able to keep you company, at whatever rate you go, until 
you are out of all danger." " I doubt that," replied the Cheva- 
lier, "for those gentlemen there seem prepared to pay us a 
visit." " Don't you see," said the officer, " they are some of 
our own people who are grazing their horses ?" " No," said 
the Chevalier ; " but I see very well that they are some of the 
enemy's troopers." Upon which, observing to him that they 
were mounting, he ordered the horsemen that escorted him to 
prepare themselves to make a diversion, and he himself set off 
full speed towards Bapaume. 

He was mounted upon a very swift English horse ; but hav- 
ing entangled himself in a hollow way where the ground was 
deep and miry, he soon had the troopers at his heels, who, sup- 
posing him to be some officer of rank, would not be deceived, 
but continued to pursue him without paying any attention to 
the others. The best mounted of the party began to draw near 
him ; for the English horses, swift as the wind on even ground, 
proceeded but very indifferently in bad roads ; the trooper pre- 
sented his carbine, and cried out to him, at some distance* 
" Good quarter." The Chevalier de Grammont, who perceived 

*A fortified town in Artois, seated in a barren country, without 
rivers or springs, and having an old palace, which gave rise to the town, 
with a particular governor of its own, a royal and forest court. In 1641 
the French took it from the Spaniards. 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GKAMMONT. 73 

that they gained upon him, and that whatever efforts his horse 
made in such heavy ground, he must be overtaken at last, 
immediately quitted the road to Bapaume, and took a cause- 
way to the left, which led quite a different way ; as soon as 
he had gained it, he drew up, as if to hear the proposal of the 
trooper, which afforded his horse an opportunity of recovering 
himself ; while his enemy, mistaking his intention, and think- 
ing that he only waited to surrender, immediately exerted 
every effort, that he might take him before the rest of his com- 
panions, who were following, could arrive, and by this means 
almost killed his horse. 

One minute's reflection made the Chevalier consider what a 
disagreeable adventure it would be, thus coming from so 
glorious a victory, and the dangers of a battle so warmly dis 
puted, to be taken by a set of scoundrels who had not been in 
it, and, instead of being received in triumph, and embraced by 
a great queen, for the important news with which he was 
charged, to see himself stripped by the vanquished. 

During this short meditation, the trooper who followed him 
was arrived within shot, and still presenting his carbine, offered 
him good quarter, but the Chevalier de Grammont, to whom 
this offer, and the manner in which it was made, were equally 
displeasing, made a sign to him to lower his piece ; and per- 
ceiving his horse to be in wind, he lowered his hand, rode off 
like lightning, and left the trooper in such astonishment that 
he even forgot to fire at him. 

As soon as he arrived at Bapaume, he changed horses ; the 
commander of this place showed him the greatest respect, as- 
suring him that no person had yet passed ; that he would keep 
the secret, and that he would retain all that followed him, ex- 
cept the couriers of Monsieur de Turenne. 

He now had only to guard against those who would be 



74 MEMOIES OF COUNT CxEAMMONT. 

watching for liim about the environs of Peronne, to return as 
soon as tliey saw him, and carry his news to court, without 
being acquainted with any of the particulars. He knew very 
well that Marshal du Plessis, Marshal de Yilleroy, and Ga- 
boury, had boasted of this to the Cardinal before his departure.. 
A^Hierefore, to elude tliis snare, he hired two well-mounted 
liorsemen at Bapaume, and as soon as he had got a league from 
that place, and after giving them each two louis d'ors, to secure 
their fidelity, he ordered them to ride on before, to appear very 
much terrified, and to tell all those who should ask them any 
questions, " that all was lost, that the Chevalier de Grammont 
had stopped at Bapaume, having no great inclination to be the 
messenger of ill news ; and that as for themselves, they had 
been pursued by the enemy's troopers, who were spread over 
the whole country since the defeat." 

Everything succeeded to his wish : the horsemen were in- 
tercepted by Gaboury, whose eagerness had outstripped the 
two marshals ; but whatever questions were asked them, they 
acted their parts so well, that Peronne was already in con- 
sternation, and rumours of the defeat were whispered among 
the courtiers, when the Chevalier de Grammont arrived. 

N'othing so enhances the value of good news, as when a 
false alarm of bad has preceded ; yet, though the Chevalier's 
was accompanied with this advantage, none but their Ma- 
jesties received it with that transport of joy it deserved. 

The queen kept her promise to him in the most fascinating 
manner : she embraced him before the whole court ; the king 
appeared no less delighted ; but the Cardinal, whether with 
the view of lessening the merit of an action which deserved a 
handsome reward, or whether it was from a return of that 
insolence which always accompanied him in prosperity, 
appeared at first not to pay any attention to what he said, and 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 75 

being afterwards informed that the lines had been forced, that 
the Spanish army was beaten, and that Arras was relieved : 
" Is the Prince de Conde taken ?" said he. " No," replied the 
Chevalier de Grammont. " He is dead then, I suppose ?" said 
the Cardinal. "Not so, neither," answered the Chevalier. 
" Fine news indeed !" said the Cardinal, with an air of con- 
tempt ; and at these words he went into the queen's cabinet 
with their majesties. And happy it was for the Chevalier 
that he did so, for without doubt he would have given him 
some severe reply,* in resentment for those two fine questions, 
and the conclusion he had drawn from them. 

The court was filled with the Cardinal's spies : the Cheva- 
lier, as is usual on such an occasion, was surrounded by a 
crowd of courtiers and inquisitive people, and he was very 
glad to ease himseK of some part of the load which laid heavy 
on his heart, within the hearing of the Cardinal's creatures, 
and which he would perhaps have told him to his face. 
" Faith, gentlemen," said he, with a sneer, " there is nothing- 
like being zealous and eager in the service of kings and great 
princes : you have seen what a gTacious reception his Majesty 
has given me ; you are likewise witnesses in what an obliging 
manner the queen kept her promise with me ; but as for the 
Cardinal, he has received my news as if he gained no more by 
it than he did by the death of Peter Mazarin."-)- 

* This spirit seems not always to have attended him in his trans- 
actions with the Cardinal. On occasion of the entry of the king in 1660r 
"Le Chevalier de Grammont, Eouville, Bellefonds, and some other 
courtiers, attended in the cardinal's suite, a degree of flattery which 
astonished everybody who knew him. I was informed that the Cheva- 
lier wore a very rich orange-coloured dress on that occasion." Lettres 
de Maintenon, tome i. p. 32. 

t Peter Mazarin was father to the Cardinal. He was a native of 
Palermo in Sicily, which place he left in order to settle at Eome, where 
he died in the year 1654. 



76 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

This was sufficient to terrify all those who were sincerely 
attached to him ; and the best established fortune would have 
been ruined at some period by a jest much less severe : for it 
was delivered in the presence of witnesses, who were only 
desirous of having an opportunity of representing it in its ut- 
most malignancy, to make a merit of their vigilance with a 
powerful and absolute minister. Of this the Chevalier de 
Grammont was thoroughly convinced ; yet whatever detri- 
ment he foresaw might arise from it, he could not help being 
much pleased with wliat he had said. 

The spies very faithfully discharged their duty : however, 
the affair took a very different turn from what they expected. 
The next day, when the Chevalier de Grammont was present 
while their Majesties were at dinner, the Cardinal came in, 
and coming up to liim, everybody making way for him out of 
respect : " Chevalier," said he, " the news which you have 
brought is very good, their Majesties are very well satisfied 
with it ; and to convince you it is more advantageous to me 
than the death of Peter Mazarin, if you will come and dine 
with me we will have some play together ; for the queen will 
give us something to play for, over and above her first 
promise." 

In this manner did the Chevalier de Grammont dare to 
provoke a powerful minister, and this was all the resentment 
which the least vindictive of all statesmen expressed on the 
occasion. It was indeed very unusual for so young a man to 
reverence the authority of ministers no farther, than as they 
were themselves respectable by their merit ; for this, his own 
breast, as well as the whole court, applauded him, and he en- 
joyed the satisfaction of being the only man who durst pre- 
serve the least shadow of liberty, in a general state of servi- 
tude ; but it was perhaps owing to the Cardinal's passing over 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 7T 

this insult with impunity, that he afterwards drew upon him- 
self some difficulties, by other rash expressions less fortunate 
in the event. 

In the mean time the court returned : the Cardinal, who- 
was sensible that he could no longer keep his master in a 
state of tutelage, being himself worn out with cares and sick- 
ness, and having amassed treasures he knew not what to do 
with, and being sufficiently loaded with the weight of public 
odium, he turned all his thoughts towards terminating, in a 
manner the most advantageous for France, a ministry wliich 
had so cruelly shaken that kingdom. Thus, while he was 
earnestly laying the foundations of a peace so ardently wished 
for, pleasure and plenty began to reign at court. 

The Chevalier de Grammont experienced for a long time a 
variety of fortune in love and gaming : he was esteemed by 
the courtiers, beloved by beauties whom he neglected, and a 
dangerous favourite of those whom he admired ; more succes- 
ful in play than in his amours ; but the one indemnifying him 
for want of success in the other, he was always full of life and 
spirits ; and in all transactions of importance, always a man 
of honour. 

It is a pity that we must be forced here to interrupt the 
course of his history, by an interval of some years, as has 
been already done at the commencement of these memoirs. 
In a life where the most minute circumstances are always 
singular and diverting, we can meet with no chasm which 
does not afford regret ; but whether he did not think them 
worthy of holding a place among his other adventures, or that 
he has only preserved a confused idea of them, we must 
pass to the parts of these fragments which are better ascer- 
tained, that we may arrive at the subject of his journey to 
England. 



78 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

The peace of the Pyrenees * the king's maiTiage,t the 
return of the Prince cle Conde,t and the death of the Car- 
dinal, gave a new face to the state. The eyes of the whole 
nation were fixed upon their king, who, for nobleness of mien, 
and gracefulness of person, had no equal ; but it was not then 
known that he was possessed of those superior abilities, which, 
filling his subjects with admiration, in the end made him so 
formidable to Europe. Love and ambition, the invisible 
springs of the intrigues and cabals of all courts, attentively 
observed his first steps : pleasure promised herself an absolute 
empire over a prince who had been kept in ignorance of the 
necessary rules of government, and ambition had no hopes of 
reigning in the court except in the minds of those who were 
able to dispute the management of affairs ; when men were 
surprised to see the king on a sudden display such brilliant 
abilities, which prudence, in some measure necessary, had so 
long obliged him to conceal. 

An application, inimical to the pleasures which generally 
attract that age, and wdiicli unlimited power very seldom 
refuses, attached him solely to the cares of government : all 
admired this wonderful change, but all did not find their 
account in it: the great lost their consequence before an 
absolute master, and the courtiers approached with reverential 
awe the sole object of their respects and the sole master of 
their fortunes : those who had conducted themselves like 
petty tyrants in their provinces, and on the frontiers, were 
now no more than governors : favours, according to the king's 

* This treaty was concluded Vth November, 1659. 

t Louis XIV. with Maria Theresa of Austria. She »was born 20th 
September, 1638, married 1st June, 1660, and entered Paris 26th 
August following. She died at Versailles 30th July, 1683, and was 
buried at St. Denis. 

X 11th April. — See De Retz's Memoirs^ vol. iii. p, 119. 




X. ()\TIS TMIE T DT'T.TlKlilT^^TII. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 79 

pleasure, were sometimes conferred on merit, and sometimes 
for services done the state ; but to importune, or to menace 
the court, was no longer the method to obtain them. 

The Chevalier de Grammont regarded his master's attention 
to the affairs of state as a prodigy: he could not conceive 
how he could submit at his age to the rules he prescribed 
himself, or that he should give up so many hours of pleasure, 
to devote them to the tiresome duties, and laborious functions 
of government ; but he blessed the Lord that henceforward 
no more homage was to be paid, no more court to be 
made, but to him alone, to whom they were justly due. Dis- 
daining as he did the servile adoration usually paid to a 
minister, he could never crouch before the power of the two 
Cardinals who succeeded each other: he neither worshipped 
the arbitrary power of the one, nor gave his approbation to the 
artifices of the other ; he had never received anything from 
Cardinal Eichelieu but an abbey, which, on account of his 
rank, could not be refused him ; and he never acquired 
anything from Mazarin but what he won of him at play. 

By many years' experience under an able general he had 
acquired a talent for war ; but this during a general peace was 
of no further service to him. He therefore thought that, in 
the midst of a court flourishing in beauties and abounding in 
wealth, he could not employ himself better than in endeavour- 
ing to gain the good opinion of his master, in making the best 
use of those advantages which nature had given him for play, 
and in putting in practice new stratagems in love. 

He succeeded very well in the two first of these projects, 
and as he had from that time laid it down as the rule of his 
conduct to attach himself solely to the king in all his views of 
preferment,~to have no regard for favour unless when it was 
supported by merit, to make himself beloved by the courtiers 



80 - MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

and feared by the minister, to dare to undertake anything in 
order to do good, and to engage in nothing at the expense of 
innocence, he soon became one in all the king's parties of 
pleasure, without gaining the ill will of the courtiers. In 
play he was successful, in love unfortunate ; or, to speak more 
])roperly, his restlessness and jealousy overcame his natural 
prudence, in a situation wherein he had most occasion for it. 
La Motte Agencourt was one of the maids of honour to the 
queen dowager, and, though no sparkling beauty, she had 
drawn away lovers from the celebrated Meneville.* It was 
sufficient in those days for the king to cast his eye upon a 
young lady of the court to inspire her with hopes, and often 
with tender sentiments ; but if he spoke to her more than 
once, the courtiers took it for granted, and those who had 
either pretensions to, or love for her, respectfully withdrew 
both the one and the other, and afterwards only paid her 
respect ; but the Chevalier de Grammont thought fit to act 
quite otherwise, perhaps to preserve a singularity of character,, 
wliich upon the present occasion was of no avail. 

He had never before thought of her, but as soon as he found 

* These two ladies at this period seem to have made a distinguished 
figure in the annals of gallantry. One of their contemporaries mentions 
them in these terms : " In this case, perhaps, I can give a better 
account than most people ; as, for instance, they had raised a report, 
when the queen-mother expeUed Mademoiselle de la Motte Agen- 
court, that it was on his score, when I am assured, upon very good 
gi'ounds, that it was for entertaining the Marquis de Eichelieu against 
her majesty's express command. This lady, who was one of her maids 
of honour, was a person whom I was particularly acquainted with ; and 
that so much, as I was supposed to have a passion for her : she was 
counted one of the finest women of the court, and therefore I was not 
at all displeased to have it thought so ; for except Mademoiselle de 
Meneville, (who had her admirers,) there was none that could pretend 
to dispute it." Memoirs of the Gomte de liochfort, 1696, p. 210. See 
also Anquetil, Louis X VI. sa Gour et le Kejentj tome i. p. 46. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 81 

that she was honoured with the king's attention, he was of 
opinion that she was likewise cleser\T.ng of his. Having 
attached himself to her, he soon became very troublesome, 
without convincing her he was much in love. She grew 
weary of his persecutions, but he would not desist, neither on 
account of her ill-treatment nor of her threats. This conduct 
of his at first made no great noise, because she was in hopes 
that he would change his behaviour ; but finding him raslily 
persist in it, she complained of him : and then it was that he 
perceived that if love renders all conditions equal, it is not so 
between rivals. He was banished the court, and not finding 
any place in France which could console him for what he most 
regretted — the presence and sight of his prince — after having 
made some slight reflections upon his disgrace, and bestowed 
a few imprecations against her who was the cause of it, he 
at last formed the resolution of \dsiting England. 



82 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 



OHAPTEK VT: 

Curiosity to see a man equally famous for his crimes and his 
elevation, had once before induced the Chevalier de Grammont 
to visit England. Keasons of state assume great privileges. 
Wliatever appears advantageous is lawful, and everything that 
is necessary is honourable in politics. While the King of 
England sought the protection of Spain in the Low Countries, 
and that of the States-General in Holland, other powers sent 
splendid embassies to Cromwell. 

This man, whose ambition had opened him a way to sove- 
reign power by the greatest crimes, maintained himself in it 
by accomplishments which seemed to render him worthy of it 
by their lustre. The nation, of all Europe the least submis- 
sive, patiently bore a yoke which did not even leave her the 
shadow of that liberty of which she is so jealous ; and Crom- 
well, master of the Commonwealth, under the title of Protector, 
feared at home, but yet more dreaded abroad, was at his 
highest pitch of glory when he was seen by the Chevalier de 
Grammont ; but the Chevalier did not see any appearance of 
a court. One part of the nobility proscribed, the other 
removed from employments ; an affectation of purity of man- 
ners, instead of the luxury which the pomp of courts displays. 




v^ ") A.'^j'Y :e,ir r 111 o iNi -^\- -1^, T,ii;, 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 83 

all taken together, presented nothing but sad and serious 
objects in the finest city in the world; and therefore the 
Chevalier acquired nothing by this voyage but the idea of 
some merit in a profligate man, and the admiration of some 
concealed beauties he had found means to discover. 

Affairs wore quite a different appearance at his second voyage. 
The joy for the restoration of the royal family still appeared 
in all parts. The nation, fond of change and novelty, tasted 
the pleasure of a natural government, and seemed to breathe 
again after a long oppression. In short, the same people who, 
by a solemn abjuration, had excluded even the posterity of 
their lawful sovereign, exhausted themselves in festivals and 
rejoicings for his return.* 

The Chevalier de Grammont arrived about two years after 
the restoration. The reception he met with in this court soon 
made him forget the other ; and the enoao'ements he in the 
end contracted in England lessened the regret he had in 
leaving France. 

This was a desirable retreat for an exile of his disposition 

* Bishop Burnet confirms this account. " With the restoration of the 
king," says he, " a spirit of extravagant joy spread over the nation, that 
brought on with it the throwing off the very professions of virtue and 
- piety. All ended in entertainments and drunkenness which overrun the 
three kingdoms to such a degree, that it very much corrupted all their 
morals. Under the colour of drinking the king's health, there were 
great disorders, and much riot everywhere : and the pretences of religion, 
both in those of the hypocritical sort, and of the more honest, but no 
less pernicious enthusiasts, gave gTeat advantages, as well as they fur- 
nished much matter to the profane mockers of true piety." — History of 
his own Times, vol. i. p. 127, 8vo. edit. Voltaire says, King Charles " was 
received at Dover by twenty thousand of his subjects, who fell upon 
their knees before him ; and I have been told by some old men who 
were of this number, that hardly any of those who were present could 
refrain from tears." Age of Louis XIV., chap. 5. 

6—2 



84 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 

Everything flattered liis taste, and if tlie adventures he had in 
this country were not the most considerable, they were at 
least the most agreeable of his life. But before we relate 
them it will not be improper to give some account of the 
English court, as it was at that period. 

The necessity of ajffairs had exposed Charles II. fi'om his 
earliest youth to the toils and perils of a bloody war. The 
fate of the king his father had left him for inheritance nothing 
but his' misfortunes and disgraces. They overtook him every- 
whei^; butit was not until he.- had struggled with his ill- 
fortune to the last extremity that'^hef submitted to the decrees 
of Providence. . ' . , • 

All those who were either gxeat on account of their birth 
or th&irvloyalty had' followed him into exile ; and all the young 
persons. of the gi-eatest distinction haying afterwards joined 
him, composed a court worthy of a better fate. 

Plenty and prosperity, wliich are thought to tend only to 
corrupt manners, found nothing to si)oil in an indigent and 
wandering court. Necessity, x)n the contrary, which produces 
a thousand advantages whether we will or no, served them for 
education ; and notliing was to be seen among them but an 
emulation in glory, politeness, and virtue. 

With this little court, in such high esteem for merit, the 
King of England returned two years prior to the period we 
mention, to ascend a throne which, to all appearances, he was 
to fill as worthily as the most glorious of his predecessors. 
The magnificence displayed on this occasion was renewed at his 
coronation.^ 

* There is some reason to believe that the Count de Gramniont, whose 
circumstances at his lirst arrival at the court of Britain were inferior to 
his rank, endeavoured to distinguish himself by his literary acquire- 
ments. A scarce little book, in Latin and French, upon the coronation, 
has been ascribed to him with some probability. The initials subscribed 




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MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 85 

in different places of the work are P. D. C, wliich may correspond to 
Philibert de Cramont, in wliich manner the family name was often 
spelt ; and the dedication seems to apply accurately to the count s 
circumstances. The full title runs : — 

" Complementum Fortunatarum Insulanim, sive Galathea Vaticinans; 
being part of an epithalamium upon the auspicious match of the most 
puissant and most serene Charles II., and the most illustrious Catharina, 
Infanta of Portugal ; with a description of the Fortunate Islands. 
"Written originally in French, by P. D. C, Gent.,* and since translated 
by him into Latin and English. With the translations also of the 
Description of S. James's Park, and the late Fight at S. Lucar, by Mr. 
Edmund Waller ; the Panegjn^ic of Charles the Second, by Mr. Dryden; 
and other pieces relating to the present times. London, printed by 
W. G., 1662. 

It is dedicated to James Boteler, Earl of Ossory, Viscount Thorle, 
afterwards Duke of Ormond, previous to his going to Ireland,t which 
dedication concludes thus; "The utmost height of my ambition, and 
the utmost scope of my design at present, my lord, is only since I have 
no other means left me to provide for my attendance upon your lordship 
and the heads of your honom-able family, in this your journey, that 
you will be pleased to accept of me, in this slender garb, being every 
way otherwise disappointed by the frowns of fortune, and so unfit to 
pretend admittance in so splendid a train ; unless it be 

Nelle scorta di Febo, che a vos s'inchina, 

Tutta ridente, tutta di scherzi plena. 

But, my lord, my own words on another occasion : 
• Si, quelque jour, la Fortune 



Met en plus grahde liberte 
Mon Genie persecute 
Des rigueurs de cette importune, — 
Peut-etre d'un burin plus sure 
Et d'un vers rempli de douceur — 
D'Ormond j'entreprendrai I'image ; 



* The state of his fortune at this period not allowing the splendour of 
a, French nobleman, he was only considered a private gentleman, and 
this he hints at in the dedication that follows. 

t Philibert, Count Grammont married the Duke of Ormond's sister. 



8(> MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

Et dans les beaux exploits de tous ses d^scendans 
La d^peiudrai si bien que la plus fi^re rage 
Eespectera ses traits jusqu'a la fin des temps. 
This is the vow, this is the serious wish of him, my lord, who desires, 
for no better end, to be once again restored to the state of his former 
fortune, than to become thereby more ready and capable to wait here- 
after on your lordship otherwise than by his pen, and so declare, by some 
more real deed than poetical expressions, how unfeignedly he is, 

My lord, 

Your lordship's 
Most true and most devoted servant, 
P. D. C. 

The contents of this book consist chiefly of poetry of a complimentary 
nature. The following well-known lines of Waller's, on Westminster 
Abbey, he has given with much taste : — 

" From hence he does that antique pile behold, 
Where royal heads receive the sacred gold ; 
It gives them crowns, and does their ashes keep ; 
There made like gods, like mortals there they sleep." 

" Passant plus outre il voit la chapelle oil nos rois 
E-eeoivent Tor sacree, et leur gardant les loix ; 
La terre aussi sacree ^galement leur donne 
La droit de sepulture et la droit de couronne." 

The contents of the volume are : — 

A Song of the Sea Nymph Galatea, upon the marriage of Charles II. 
and the Princess Infanta of Portugal, (15 stanzas of ten lines each). 

The same in Latin. 

The same in French. 

St. James's Park, by Waller, in English, French, and Latin. 

Of the late War w4th Spain, 1657, and our Victory at St. Lucar, near 
Cadiz, by the same, in English and French. 

On his sacred Majesty's Coronation, by Dryden, English and French. 

The Fortunate Islands, being part of a larger poem written formerly 
in French, upon the happy inauguration of Charles II. — By P. D. C.^ 
and since by him translated in English and Latin. Dedicated to his 
dear friend Edmund Waller, Esq., with a specimen of an English 
version. 

Another dedication : "" To Prince Eupert, as a monument of his 




jD)UK"E. DIF GrlOr^jE.3T:E."K 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 8 '7 

The death of the Duke of G-loiicester,* and of the Princes.s 

devoted respects and due esteem of his Highness's celebrated virtues and 
great experience in sea voyages ; and as a deserved acknowledgment of 
his Highness's indefatigable endeavours in promoting English planta- 
tions, P, D. C. humbly dedicates this Pindaric Rapture : being part of 
his poem of the Fortunate Islands, formerly written in French, and 
addressed to the King's Majesty upon the solemnity of his auspicious 
coronation." — 25 Stanzas of ten lines each. 

The same in Latin. 

The King's excursion on the Thames, July anno 1661 ; An extem- 
pore Ode, " To the great and illustrious William, Earl of Devonshire, 
the noble and judicious Maecenas of polite literature ; P. D. C dedi- 
cates it in obedient and grateful testimony," &c. 

A short Ode of about 60 lines. 

If we are correct in imputing this work to Grammont, he must have 
been in England at the time of the Coronation, which agrees tolerably 
with the vague expression in the text that he arrived about two years 
after the Restoration. For this ceremony did not take place until after 
the deaths of the Duke of Gloucester and the Princess of Orange. It 
was celebrated 22d and 23d April, 1661, with uncommon magnificence; 
the whole show as Lord Clarendon observes, being the most glorious 
in the order and expence, that had ever been seen in England. The pro- 
cession began from the Tower, and continued so long, that they who 
rode first were in Fleet-street when the king issued from the Tower. 
The whole ceremonial took up two days. See Continuation of Claren- 
don, p. 29. Kennefs Register, 411. 

* This event took place September 3rd, 1660. He died of the small- 
pox. " Though mankind," as Mr. Macpherson observes, " are apt to 
exaggerate the virtues of princes who happen to die in early youth, 
their praises seem to have done no more than justice to the character of 
Gloucester. He joined in himself the best qualities of both his brothers: 
the understanding and good-nature of Charles, to the industry and 
application of James. The facility of the first, was in him a judicious 
moderation. The obstinacy of the latter, was in Gloucester a manly 
firmness of mind. Attached to the religion, and a friend to the con- 
stitution of his country, he was most regretted, when his family regarded 
these the least. The vulgar, who crowd with eminent virtues and 
great actions the years which fate denies to their favourites, foresaw^ 
future misfortunes in his death ; and' even the judicious supposed that 
the measures of Charles might have derived solidity from his judgment 



88 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

Royal,^ whicli followed soon after, had intermpted the course 
of this splendour by a tedious mourning, which they quitted 
at last to prepare for the reception of the Infanta of Portugal.f 



and promising parts. The king lamented liis death with all the vehe* 
mence of an affectionate sorrow." The Duke of York was much 
affected with the loss of a brother, whose high merit he much admired. 
"He was a prince," says James, " of the greatest hopes, undaunted 
courage, admirable parts, and a clear understanding." He had a par- 
ticular talent 'at languages. Besides the Latin,' he was master of the 
French, the Spanish, the Italian, and Low Dutch. He was, in short, 
possessed of all the natural qualities, as well as acquired accomplish- 
ments, necessary to make a great prince. MacpliersorCs History of 
Great Britain, ch . 1 . Bishop Burnet's character of this young prince 
is also very favourable. See History of his Oivn Times, vol. i. p. 238. 
* Mary, eldest daugliter of Charles L, born" November 4th, 1631, 
married to the Prince of Orange, 2nd May, 1641, who died 27th October, 
1650. She arrived in England, SejDtember 23rd, and died of the small- 
pox, December 24th, 1660, — according to Bishop Burnet, not much 
lamented. "^ She had lived," says the author, " in her-widowhood for 
some years with great reputation, kept a decent court, and supported 
her broth ei-s very liberally ; and lived within bounds. But her mother, 
Avho had the art of making herself believe anything she had a mind 
to, upon a conversation with the queen-mother of France, fancied the 
King of France might be inclined to marry her. So she wrote to her to 
come to Paris. In order to that, she made an equipage far above what 
she could support. So she ran herself into debt, sold all her jewels, 
and some estates that were in her power as her son's guardian ; and 
was not only disappointed of that vain expectation, but fell into some 
misfortunes that lessened the reputation she had formerly lived in." 
History of Ms Own Times, vol. i., p. 238. She was mother of 
Wniiam III. 

t " The Infanta, of Portugal landed in May (1662) at Portsmouth. 
The king went thither, and was married privately by Lord Aubigny, a 
secular priest, and almoner to the queen, according to the rites of Pome, 
in the queen's chamber ; none present but the Portuguese ambassador, 
three more Portuguese of quality, and two or three Portuguese women. 
What made this necessary was, that the Earl of Sandwich did not 
marry her by proxy, as usual, before she came away. How this hap- 




3 i^i T^MAx^ 



. 



I 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 89 

It was in the height of the rejoicings they were making for 
this new queen, in all the splendour of a brilliant court, that 
the Chevalier de Grammont arrived to contribute to its mag- 
nificence and diversions. 

Accustomed as he was to the grandeur of the court of 
France, lie was surprised at the politeness and splendour of 
the court of England. The king was inferior to none,^ either 
in shape or air ; his wit was pleasant ; his disposition easy 
and affable ; his soul, susceptible of opposite impressions, was 
compassionate to the unhappy, inflexible to the wicked, and 
tender even to excess ; he showed great abilities in urgent 
affairs, but was incapable of application to any that were not 
so : his heart was often the dupe, but oftener the slave, of his 
engagements. 

The character of the Duke of Yorkf was entirely different : 

pened, the duke knows not, nor did the chancellor know of this private 
marriage. The queen would not be bedded, till pronounced man a?".d 
wife by Sheldon, bishop of London." — Extract 2, from King James 
II. 's Journal. — Macj^herson^ s State Papers, vol. i. In. the same col- 
lection is a curious letter from the King to Lord Clarendon, giving his 
opinion of the queen after having seen her. 

* Charles II. was born 29th May, 1630, and died 6th February, 
1684-5. His character is very amply detailed, and accurately depicted 
by George Saville, Marquis of Halifax, in a volume published by his 
granddaughter, the Countess of Burlington, 8vo., 1750. See also 
Burnet, Clarendon, and Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham. 

t James, Duke of York, afterwards King James II. He was born 
15th October, 1633 ; succeeded his brother 6th Februar}^, 1684-5 ; 
abdicated the crown in 1688 ; and died 6th September, 1701. Bishop 
Burnet's character of him appears not very far from the truth. — ^' He 
was," says this writer, " very brave in his youth ; and so much magni- 
fied by Monsieur Turenne, that till his marriage lessened him, he 
really clouded the king, and passed for the superior genius. He was 
naturally candid and sincere, and a firm friend, till affairs and his 
religion wore out all his first principles and inclinations. He had a 



DO MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

lie had the reputation of undaunted courage, an inviolable 
attachment for his word, great economy in his affairs, hauteur, 
application, arrogance, each in their turn : a scrupulous oh- 
ser^•er of the rides of duty and the laws of justice ; he was 
accounted a faithful friend, and an implacable enemy. 

His morality and justice, struggling for some time with 
]U'ejudice, had at last triumphed, by his acknowledging for 
his A\ife Miss Hyde,* maid of lionour to the Princess Eoyal,. 



;^reat desire to luiclerstand affaii-s : and in order to that he kept a con- 
stant journal of all that passed, of which he showed me a great deal. 
The Duke of Buckingham gave me once a short but severe character 
of the two hrothei-s. It wjis the more severe, because it was true : the 
king, (he said,) could see things if he would : and the duke would see 
things if he could. He had no true judgment, and was soon deter- 
mined by those whom he trusted : but he was obstinate against all 
other advices. He was bred Avith high notions of kingly authority, 
and laid it down for a maxim, that all who opposed the king were 
rebels in their hearts. He was perpetually in one amour or othei-, 
without being very nice in his choice : upon which the king once said, 
he believed his brother had his mistress given him by his priests for 
])enance. He was naturally eager and revengeful : and was against 
the taking off any, that set up in an opposition to the measures of the 
coiu't, and who by that means grew popular in the house of com- 
mons. He was for rougher methods. He continued many years 
dissembling his religion, and seemed zealous for the church of Eng- 
land, but it was chiefly on design to hinder all propositions, that 
tended to unite us among ourselves. He was a frugal prince, and 
brought his court into method and magnificence, for he had 100,000/. 
a-year allowed him. He was made high admiral, and he came to 
understand all the concerns of the sea ver}^ particularly." 

* Miss Anne Hyde, eldest daughter of Lord Chancellor Clarendon. 
King James mentions this marriage in these terms. — "The king at first 
refused the Duke of York's marriage with Miss Hyde. Many of the 
duke's friends and servants opposed it. The king at last consented, and 
the Duke of York privately married her, and soon after owned the 
marriage. Her want of birth was made up by endowments ; and her 




:D '[' K JE ■() ¥ (.) ILMM (J) PT jl .) 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 91 

whom lie liad secretly married in Holland. Her father,* 
from that time prime minister of England, supported by this 
new interest, soon rose to the head of affairs, and had almost 
ruined them : not that he wanted capacity, but he was too 
self-sufficient. 

The Duke of Ormond-f* possessed the coniidence and esteem 



carriage afterwards became lier acquired dignity." Again. " When 
his sister, the princess royal, came to Paris to see the queen-mother, the 
Duke of York fell in love with Mrs. Anne Hyde, one of her maids of 
honour. Besides her person, she had all the qualities proper to inflame 
a heart less apt to take fire than his ; which she managed so well as ta 
bring his passion to such an height, that, between the time he first saw 
her and the winter before the king's restoration, he resolved to marry 
none but her ; and promised her to do it : and though, at first, when 
the duke asked the king his brother for his leave, he refused, and dis- 
suaded him from it, yet at last he opposed it no more; and the duke 
married her privately, owned it some time after, and was ever after a 
true friend to the chancellor for several years." — MacpTierson' s State 
Papers^ vol. i. 

* Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, " for his comprehensive know- 
ledge of mankind, styled the chancellor of human nature. His charac- 
ter, at this distance of time, may and ought to be impartially considered. 
Designing or blinded contemporaries heaped the most unjust abuse upon 
him. The subsequent age, when the partisans of prerogative were at 
least the loudest, if not the most numerous, smit with a work that 
defied their martyr, have been unbounded in their encomium." — Cata- 
logue of Noble Author s^\q\.\\. p. 18. Lord Orford, who professes to 
steer a middle course, and separate his great virtues as a man from his 
faults as an historian, acknowledges that he possessed almost every 
virtue of a minister which could make his character venerable. He died 
in exile, in the year 1674. 

t James Butler, Duke of Ormond, born 19th October, 1610, and died 
21st July, 1688. Lord Clarendon, in the Continuation of his Life, 
observes, that " he frankly engaged his person and his fortune in the 
king's service, from the first hour^of the troubles, and pursued it with 
courage and constancy, that when the king was murdered, and he 
deserted by the Irish, contrary to the articles of peace which they had 



D2 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

c»f his master : the greatness of his services, the splendour of 
liis merit and his birth, and the fortune he had abandoned in 
adhering to the fate of his prince, rendered him worthy of it : 
nor durst the courtiers even murmur at seeing him grand 
steward of the household, first lord of the bed-chamber, and 
lord-lieutenant of Ireland. He exactly resembled the Mar- 
shal de Grammont, in the turn of his wit and the nobleness 
of liis manners, and like liim was the honour of his master's 
court. 



made with him, and when he coiikl make no longer defence, he refused 
all tlie conditions which Cromwell offered — who would have given him 
his vixst estate if he would have been contented to live (j^uietly in some 
of his own houses, without further concerning himself in the quarrel — 
and transported himself, without so much as accepting a pass from his 
authority, in a Uttle weak vessel into France, where he found the king, 
from w^hom he never parted till he returned with him into England. 
Having thus merited as much as a subject can do from a prince, he had 
much more credit and esteem with the king than any other man." — 
Continuation of the Life of Lord Clarendon, p. 4, fol. edit. Bishop 
Burnet says of him, " he was a man every way fitted for a court ; of a 
graceful appearance, a lively wit, and a cheerful temper ; a man of 
great expence ; decent even in his vices, for he always kept np the form 
of religion. He had gone through many transactions in Ireland with 
more fidelity than success. He had made a treaty with the Irish, which 
was broken by the great body of them, though some few of them adhered 
stiU to him. But the whole Irish nation did still pretend, that though 
they had broke the agreement first, yet he, or rather the king, in whose 
name he had treated with them, was bound to perform all the articles 
of the treaty. He had miscarried so in the siege of DubHn, that it 
very much lessened the opinion of his military conduct. Yet his con- 
stant attendance on his master, his easiness to him, and his great suff'er- 
ing for him, raised him to be lord-steward of the household, and lord- 
lieutenant of Ireland. He was firm to the Protestant religion, and so 
far firm to the laws, that he always gave good advices ; but when bad 
-ones were followed, he was not for complaining too much of them." — 
History of His Oivn Times, vol. i., p. 230. 




"i ) Tr_^ WL je. C) :f ib t- t:' j^. :c i>^ ^i-z ..\. i^ i 



i 




icnycn j. 



iriy 



JF^JRItYr^ i^A. 



--a%. 



MEMOIES OF CQ^Sr GRAMMONT. "'''9^^^ 

The Duke of Buckingiiam^nd tlieElfiA©£!Sl|.i41b;a^M were' Z 
the same in England as they^peared in France : the one full £■' 
of wit and vivacity, dissipated, ^th^J*t splendour, an immejis^^ 
estate upon which he had just en^^^^^^^&cM^iTj'^^rf of 
no great genius, had raised himself a coS^l^fe^P^Sfe fortune 
from nothing, and by losing at play, and keeping a great table, 
made it appear greater than it was. 

Sir George Berkeley,i afterwards Earl of Ealmoutli, was the 

* " The Duke of Buckingham is again one hundred and forty thou- 
sand pounds in debt ; and by this prorogation his creditors have time 
to tear all his lands to pieces." — Andrew MarvelVs Works, 4to. edit., 
vol. i. p. 406. 

t Henry Jermyn, Earl of St. Albans, and Baron of St. Edmond's 
Bury. He was master of the horse to Queen Henrietta, and one of the 
privy-council to Charfes II. In July, 1660, he was sent ambassador to 
the court of France, and, in 1671, was made lord-chamberlain of his 
majesty's household. He died January 2, 1683. Sir John Eeresby 
asserts that Lord St. Alban's was married to Queen Henrietta. " The 
abbess of an English college in Paris, whither the queen used to retire, 
would tell me," says Sir John, " that Lord Jermyn, since St. Alban's, 
had the queen greatly in awe of him ; and indeed it was obvious that 
he had great interest with her concerns ; but that he was married to 
her, or had children by her, as some have reported, I did not then 
believe, though the thing was certainly so."^ — Memoirs, p. 4. Madame 
Baviere, in her letters, says, " Charles the First's widow made a clandes- 
tine marriage with her chevalier d'honneur, Lord St. Alban's, who 
treated her extremely ill, so that, whilst she had not a faggot to warm 
herself, he had in his apartment a good fire and a sumptuous table. 
He never gave the queen a kind word, and when she spoke to him he 
used to say. Que me veut cettefemme .?" Hamilton hints at his selfish- 
ness a little lower. 

X This Sir George Berkeley, as he is here improperly called, was 
Charles Berkley, second son of Sir Berkley, of Bruton, in Glou- 
cestershire, and was the principal favourite and companion of the Duke 
of York in all his campaigns. He was created Baron Berkley of Eath- 
down, and Viscount Fitzharding of Ireland, and Baron Bottetort and 
Earl of Falmouth in England, 17th March, 1664. He had the address 



M MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

€onlidant and favourite of the King : he commanded the Duke 
of York's regiment of guards, and governed the Duke himself 
He had nothing very remarkable either in his wit, or his 
person ; but his sentiments were worthy of the fortune which 
awaited him, when, on the very point of his elevation, he was 
killed at sea. Never did disinterestedness so perfectly cha- 
racterise the greatness of the soul : he had no views but what 



to secure himself in the affections equally of the king and his brother 
at the same time . Lord Clarendon, who seems to have conceived, and 
with reason, a prejudice against him, calls him "a fellow of great 
wickedness," and says, "he was one in whom few other men (except the 
king) had ever observed any virtue or quality, which they did not wish 
their best friends without. He was young, and of an insatiable ambi- 
tion; and a little more experience might have taught him all things which 
liis weak parts were capable of." — Clarendon^s Life, p. 34, 267. Bishop 
Burnet, however, is rather more favourable. " Berkley," says he, " was 
generous in his expence ; and it was thought if he had outlived the 
lewdness of that time, and come to a more sedate course of life, he 
v/ould have put the king on gi-eat and noble designs." — History, vol. i., 
p. 137. He lost his life in the action at Southwold Bay, the 2nd June, 
1665, by a shot, which, at the same time, killed Lord Muskerry and 
Mr. Boyle, as they were standing on the quarter-deck, near the Duke 
of York, who was covered with their blood. " Lord Falmouth," as 
King James observes, " died not worth a farthing, though not expen- 
sive." — MacpJierson^s State Pcqoers, vol. i. "He was, however, lamented 
by the king with floods of tears, to the amazement of all who had 
seen how unshaken he stood on other assaults of fortune." — Clarendon^s 
Life, p. 269. Even his death did not save him from Marvell's satire. 
Falmouth was there, I know not what to act, 
Some say, 'twas to grow duke too by contract ; 
An untaught bullet, in its wanton scope, 
Dashes him all to pieces, and his hope : 
Such was his rise, such was his fall uu praised, — 
A chance shot sooner took him than chance raised ; 
His shattered head the fearless duke disdains, 
And gave the last first proof that he had brains. 

A dvice to a Painter, p. i . 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 95 

tended to the glory of his master : his credit was never em- 
ployed but in advising him to reward services, or to confer 
favours on merit : so polished in conversation, that the greater 
Ms power, the greater was his humility; and so sincere in all 
his proceedings, that he would never have been taken for a 
courtier. 

The Duke of Ormond's sons and his nephews had been in 
the king's coart during his exile, and were far from diminish- 
ing its lustre after his return. The Earl of Arran* had a sin- 
gular address in all kinds of exercises, played well at tennis 
-and on the guitar, and was pretty successful in gallantry : his 

* Richard Butler, Earl of Arran, fifth son of James Butler, tlie 
first Duke of Orruond. He was born 15tli July, 1639, and educated 
with great care, being taught everything suitable to his birth, and the 
great affection his parents had for him. As he grew up, he distin- 
guished himself by a brave and excellent disposition, which determined 
him to a military life. When the duke his father was first made lord- 
lieutenant of Ireland, after the restoration, his majesty wa,s pleased, by 
his letter, dated April 23, 1662, to create Lord Richard, Baron Butler 
of Cloghgrenan, Viscount Tullogh, in the county of Catherlough, and 
Earl of Arran, with remainder to his brother. In September, 1664, 
he married Lady Mary Stuart, only surviving daughter of James, Duke 
of Richmond and Lennox, by Mary, the only daughter of the great 
Duke of Buckingham, who died in July, 1667, at the age of eighteen, 
and was interred at Kilkenny. He distinguished himself in reducing 
the mutineers at Carrick-Fergus, and behaved with great courage in the 
famous sea-fight with the Dutch in 1673. In August that year, he was 
created Baron Butler of Weston, in the county of Huntingdon. He 
married, in the preceding June, Dorothy, daughter of John Ferrars of 
Tamworth Castle, in Warwickshire, Esq. In 1682 he was constituted 
lord-deputy of Ireland, upon his father's going over to England, and 
held that office until August, 1684, when the duke returned. In the 
year 1686, he died at London, and was interred in Westminster Abbey, 
leaving an only daughter, Charlotte, who was married to Charles, Lord 
Cornwallis. 



96 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

elder brother, tlie Earl of Ossory,^ was not so lively, but of 
the most liberal sentiments, and of great probity. 

The elder of the Hamiltons,f their cousin, was the man 
who of all the court dressed best : he was well made in his 
person, and possessed those happy talents which lead to for- 
tune, and procure success in love : he was a most assiduous 

* Thomas, Earl of Ossory, eldest sou of the first, and father of the 
last Duke of Ormond, was born at Kilkenny, 8th July, 1634. At the 
age of twenty-one years he had so much disthiguished himself, tliat Sir 
Eobert Southwell then drew the following character of him : " He is a 
young man with a very handsome face ; a good head of hair ; well set ; 
very good natured ; rides the great horse very well ; is a very good 
tennis-player, fencer, and dancer ; understands music, and plays on the 
guitar and lute ; speaks French elegantly ; reads Italian fluently ; is a 
good historian ; and so well versed in romances, that if a gallery be 
full of pictures and hangings, he will tell the stories of all that are 
there described. He shuts up his door at eight o'clock in the evening, 
and studies till midnight : he is temperate, courteous, and excellent in 
all his behavioui\" His death was occasioned by a fever, 30th July,. 
1680, to the grief of his family and the public. 

t Lord Orford, in a note on this passage, mentions George Hamilton, 
and the author of this present work, as the persons here intended to be 
pointed out ; and towards the conclusion of the volume has attempted 
to disentangle the confusion occasioned by the want of particularly 
distinguishing to which of the gentlemen the several adventures belong 
in which their name occurs. The elder Hamilton, however, here de- 
scribed, was, I conceive, neither George nor Anthony, but James Hamil- 
ton, their brother, eldest son of Sir George Hamilton, fourth son of the 
Earl of Abercorn, by Mary Butler, third sister to James the first Duke- 
of Ormond. This gentleman was a great favourite of king Charles II.,. 
who made him a groom of his bedchamber, and colonel of a regiment. 
In an engagement with the Dutch he had one of his legs taken oif by 
a cannon ball, of which wound he died 6th June, 1673, soon after he 
was brought home, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. George 
Hamilton was afterwards knighted, made a count in France, and mare- 
chal-du-camp in that service. He married Miss Jennings, hereafter 
mentioned, and died, according to Lodge, 1667, leaving issue by her^ 
three daughters. 




:rir m^ i- 



f;)"T^ITT]E§§ dPl © S S©:b^- 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 97 

courtier, had the most lively vnt, the most polished manners, 
and the most punctual attention to his master imaginable : 
no person danced better, nor was any one a more general 
lover : a merit of some account in a court entirely devoted to 
love and gallantry. It is not at all surprising, that with these 
qualities he succeeded my Lord Falmouth in the King's favour ; 
but it is very extraordinary that he should have experienced 
the same destiny, as if this sort of war had been declared 
against merit only, and as if tliis sort of combat was fatal to 
none but such as had certain hopes of a splendid fortune. 
This, however, did not happen till some years afterwards. 
The beau Sydney,"^ less dangerous than he appeared to be, 

* Eobert Sydney, third son of the Earl of Leicester, and brother 
of the famous Algernon Sydney, who was beheaded. This is Lord 
Orford's account ; though, on less authority, I should have been in- 
clined to have considered Henry Sydney, his younger brother, who was 
afterwards created Earl of Eumney, and died 8th April, 1704, as the 
person intended. There are some circumstances which seem particu- 
larly to point to him. Burnet, speaking of him, says, "he was a 
graceful man, and had lived long in the court, ivhere he had some 
adventures that hecame very public. He was a man of a sweet and 
caressing temper, had no malice in his heart, but too great a love of 
pleasure. He had been sent envoy to Holland in the year 1679, where 
he entered into such particular confidences with the prince, that he 
had the highest measure of his trust and favour that any Englishman 
ever had." — History of his Ovm Times, vol. ii,, p. 494. 

In the Essay on Satire, by Dryden and Mulgrave, he is spoken of 
in no very decent terms. 

" And little Sid, for simile renown'd, 

Pleasure has always sought, but never found : 

Though all his thoughts on wine and women fall, 

His are so bad, sure he ne'er thinks at all. 

The flesh he lives upon is rank and strong ; 

His meat and mistresses are kept too long. 

But sure we all mistake this pious man, 

Who mortifies his person all he can : 

7 



98 MEMOIKSi OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

had not sufficient vivacity to support the impression which 
his figure made ; but little Jermyn was on all sides successful 
in his intrigues. The old Earl of St. Albans, his uncle, had 
for a long time adopted liim, though the youngest of all his 
nephews. It is well known what a table the good man kept 
at Paris, wliile the Kinu: his master was starvino' at Brussels, 
and the Queen Dowager, liis mistress,"^ lived not over well in 
France. 

What we uncharitably take for sin, 

Are only rules of this odd capuchin ; 

For never hermit, under grave pretence. 

Has lived more contrary to common sense." 
These verses, however, have been applied to Sir Charles Sedley, whose 
name was originally spelt Sidley. Kobert Sydney died at Pens- 
hurst, 1674. 

* To what a miserable state the queen was reduced may be seen in 
the following extract from De Eetz. — " Four or five days before the 
king removed from Paris, I went to visit the Queen of England, whom 
I found in her daughter's chamber, who hath been since Duchess of 
Orleans. At my coming in she said, ^ You see I am come to keep 
Henrietta company. The poor child could not rise to-day for want of 
a lire.' The truth is, that the cardinal for six months together had not 
ordered her any money towards her pension ; that no tradespeople 
would trust her for anything ; and that there was not at her lodgings 
in the Louvre one single billet. You will do me the justice to suppose 
that the Princess of England did not keep her bed the next day for 
want of a faggot ; but it was not this which the Princess of Conde 
meant in her letter. What she spoke about was, that some days after 
my visiting the Queen of England, I remembered the condition I had 
found her in, and had strongly represented the shame of abandoning her 
in that manner, which caused the parliament to send 40,000 li^rres to her 
majesty. Posterity will hardly beheve that a Princess of England, 
grand-daughter of Henry the Great, hath wanted a faggot, in the month 
of January, to get out of bed in the Louvre, and in the eyes of a 
French court. We read in histories, with horror, of baseness less 
monstrous than this ; and the little concern I have met with about it 
in most people's minds, has obliged me to make, I believe, a thousand 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 99 

Jermyn,"^ supported by his uncle's wealth, found it no 
difficult matter to make a considerable figure upon his arrival 
at the court of the Princess of Orange : the poor courtiers of 
the king her brother could not vie with him in point of equi- 
page and magnificence ; and these two articles often produce 
as much success in love as real merit : there is no necessity 
for any other example than the present ; for though Jermyn 
was brave, and certainly a gentleman, yet he had neither bril- 
liant actions, nor distinguished rank, to set him off; and as 
for his figure, there was nothing advantageous in it. He was 
little: his head was large and his legs small; his features 
were not disagreeable, but he was affected in his carriage and 



times, this reflection, — that examples of times past move men beyond 
comparison more than those of their own times. We accustom our- 
selves to what we see ; and I have sometimes told you, that I doubted 
whether Caligula's horse being made a consul would have surprised us 
so much as we imagine." — Memoirs, vol. i., p. 261. As for the relative 
situation of the king and Lord Jermyn, (afterwards St. Albans,) Lord 
Clarendon says, that the " Marquis of Ormond was compelled to put 
himseK in prison, with other gentlemen, at a pistole a-week for his 
diet, and to walk the streets a-foot, which was no honourable custom in 
Paris, whilst the Lord Jermyn kept an excellent table for those who 
courted him, and had a coach of his own, and all other accommodations 
incident to the most full fortune : and if the king had the most urgent 
occasion for the use but of twenty pistoles, as sometimes he had, he 
could not find credit to borrow it, which he often had experiment of." 
— History of the Rehellion, vol. iii., p. 2. 

* Henry Jermyn, younger son of Thomas, elder brother of the Earl 
of St. Albans. He was created Baron Dover in 1685, and died with- 
out children, at Cheveley, in Cambridgeshire, April 6, 1708. His corpse 
was carried to Bruges, in Flanders, and buried in the monastery of the 
CarmeUtes there. St. Evremond, who visited Mr. Jermyn at Cheveley, 
says, " we went thither, and were very kindly received by a person, who 
though he has taken his leave of the court, has carried the civility and 
good taste of it into the country." — St. Evremond' s Works, vol. ii., p. 223. 

7—2 



100 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

behaviour. All his wit consisted in expressions learnt by 
rote, which he occasionally employed either in raillery, or in 
love. This was the whole foundation of the merit of a man 
so formidable in amours. 

The Princess Koyal was the first who was taken with him :"^ 
Miss Hyde seemed to be following the steps of her mis- 
tress : this immediately brought him into credit, and his re- 
putation was established in England before his arrival. Pre- 
possession in the minds of women is sufficient to find access 
to their hearts : Jermyn found them in dispositions so favour- 
able for him, that he had nothing to do but to speak. 

It was in vain they perceived that a reputation so lightly 
established, was still more weakly sustained : the prejudice 
remained: the Countess of Castlemaine,-|- a woman lively 

* It was suspected of this princess to have had a similar engagement 
with the Duke of Buckingham as the queen with Jermyn, and that was 
the cause she would not see the Duke on his second voyage to Holland, 
in the year 1652. 

t This lady, who makes so distinguished a figure in the annals of 
infamy, was Barbara, daughter and heir of William Villiers, Lord Vis- 
count Grandison, of the kingdom of Ireland, who died in 1642, in 
consequence of wounds received at the battle of Edgehill. She was 
married, just before the restoration, to Eoger Palmer, Esq., then a 
student in the Temple, and heir to a considerable fortune. In the 13th 
year of King Charles II. he was created Earl of Castlemaine in the 
kingdom of Ireland. She had a daughter, born in February, 1661, 
while she cohabited with her husband ; but shortly after she became 
the avowed mistress of the king, who continued his connection with 
her until about the year 1672, when she was delivered of a daughter, 
which was supposed to be Mr. Churchill's, afterwards Duke of Marl- 
borough, and which the king disavowed. Her gallantries were by no 
means confined to one or two, nor were they imknown to his majesty. 
In the year 1670 she was created Baroness of Nonsuch, in Surrey, 
Countess of Southampton, and Duchess of Cleveland, during her 
natural life, with remainder to Charles and George Fitzroy, her eldest 
and third son, and their heirs male. In July, 1705, her husband died, 




]DT^'r^liir8 8 OT 'rT,^TnEX,APrX), 




I>I^ .^ . ^I Z T) '-B J. 3i". T D :Z^ 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 101 

and discerning, followed the delusive shadow; and though 
undeceived in a reputation which promised so much, and per- 
formed so little, she nevertheless continued in her infatua- 
tion : she even persisted in it, until she was upon the point 
of embroiling herself with the King ; so gTeat was this first 
instance of her constancy. 

Such were the heroes of the court. As for the beauties, 
you could not look anywhere without seeing them : those of 
the greatest reputation were this same Countess of Castle- 
maine, afterwards Duchess of Cleveland, Lady Chesterfield, 
Lady Shrewsbury,"^ the Mrs. Eoberts, Mrs. Middleton, the 

and she soon after married a man of desperate fortune, known by tlie 
name of Handsome Fielding, who behaving in a manner unjustifiably 
severe towards - her, she was obliged to have resource to law for her 
protection. Fortunately it was discovered that Fielding had already a 
wife living, by which means the duchess was enabled to free herseK 
from his authority. She lived about two years afterwards, and died of 
a dropsy, on the 9th of October, 1709, in her 69th year. Bishop Burnet 
says, " she was a woman of gTeat beauty, but most enormously vicious 
and ravenous ; foolish, but imperious ; very uneasy to the king, and 
always carrying on intrigues with other men, while yet she pretended 
she was jealous of him. His passion for her, and her strange behaviour 
towards him, did so disorder him, that often he was not master of him- 
seK, nor capable of minding business, which, in so critical a time, re- 
quired great application. — History of his Own Times, vol. i. p. 129. 

* Anna Maria, Countess of Shrewsbury, eldest daughter of Robert 
Brudenel, Earl of Cardigan, and wife of Francis, Earl of Shrewsbury, 
who was killed in a duel by George, Duke of Buckingham, March 16, 
1667. She afterwards re-married with George Eodney Bridges, Esq.^ 
second son of Sir Thomas Bridges of Keynsham, in Somersetshire, 
knight, and died April 20, 1702. By her second husband she had one 
son, George Eodney Bridges, who died in 1751. This woman is said to 
have been so abandoned, as to have held, in the habit of a page, her 
gallant, the duke's horse, while he fought and killed her husband; after 
which she went to bed with him, stained with her husband's blood. 



102 MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

Misses Brooks,"^ and a thousand others, who shone at court 
with equal lustre; but it was Miss Hamilton and Miss 
Stewart who were its chief ornaments. The new queen gave 
but little additional brilliancy to the court^f either in her 
person or in her retinue, which was then composed of the 
Countess de Panetra, who came over with her in quality of 
lady of the bedchamber ; six frights, who called themselves 
maids of: honour, and a duenna, another monster, who took 
the title' of governess to those extraordinary beauties. 

* One of these ladies married Sir John Denham, and is mentioned 
hereafter. 

t Lord Clarendon confirms, in some measure, this account. " There 
was a numerous family of men and women, that were sent from Portugal, 
the most improper to promote that conformity in the queen that was 
necessary for her condition and future happiness that could be chosen ; 
the women, for the most part, old, and ugly, and proud, incapable of 
any conversation with persons of quality and a liberal education : and 
they desired, and indeed had conspired so far to possess the queen them- 
selves, that she should neither learn the English language, nor use their 
habit, nor depart from the manners and fashions of her own country in 
any particulars : which resolution," they told, " would be for the dignity 
of Portugal, and would quickly induce the English ladies to conform to 
her maj esty ' s practice. And this imagination had made that impression, 
that the tailor who had been sent into Portugal to make her cloth es 
could never be admitted to see her, or receive any employment. Nor 
when she came to Portsmouth, and found there several ladies of honour 
and prime quality to attend her in the places to which they were 
assigned by the king, did she receive any of them till the king himself 
came ; nor then with any grace, or the liberty that belonged to their 
places and offices. She could not be persuaded to be dressed out of 
the wardrobe that the king had sent to her, but would wear the clothes 
which she had brought, until she found that the king was displeased, 
and would be obeyed ; whereupon she conformed, against the advice 
of her women, who continued their opiniatrety, without any one of 
them receding from their own mode, which exposed them the more to 
reproach." — Continuation of Clarendon^ s Life, p. 168. In a short time 
after their arrival in England, they were ordered back to Portugal. 




^II-S^ ZBl^lOnX^ afl-ev-vva:):,!:.-. A ! ^■r "^^.i rrnT-n-R^p 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 103 

Among the men were Francisco de Melo, brother to the 
Countess de Panetra; one Tanrauvedez, who called himself 
Don Pedro Prancisco Correo de Silva, extremely handsome, 
but a greater fool than all the Portuguese put together : he 
was more vain of his names than of his person; but the 
Duke of Buckmgham, a still greater fool than he, though 
more addicted to raillery, gave him the additional name of 
Peter of the "Wood. He was so enraged at this, that, after 
many fruitless complaints and ineffectual menaces, poor Pedro 
de Silva was obliged to leave England, while the happy duke 
kept possession of a Portuguese nymph more hideous than 
the queen's maids of honour, whom he had taken from him, 
as well as two of his names. Besides these, there were six 
chaplains, four bakers, a Jew perfumer, and a certain officer, 
probably without an office, who called himself her highness's 
barber. Katharine de Braganza was far from appearing with 
splendour in the charming court where she came to reign; 
however, in the end she was pretty successful.^ The Cheva- 

* Lord Clarendon says, " the queeu had beauty and wit enough to 
make herself agreeable to him (the king) ; and it is very certain, that, 
at their first meeting, and for some time after, the king had very good 
satisfaction in her. . . . Though she was of years enough to have had 
more experience of the world, and of as much wit as could be wished, 
and of a humour very agreeable at some seasons, yet, she had been bred, 
according to the mode and discipline of her country, in a monastery, 
where she had only seen the women who attended her, and conversed 
with the religious who resided there ; and, without doubt, in her inclina- 
tions, was enough disposed to have beenoneof that number : and from this 
restraint she was called out to be a gTeat queen, and to a free conversa- 
tion in a court that was to be upon the matter new formed, and reduced 
from the manners of a licentious age to the old rules and limits which 
had been observed in better times ; to which regular and decent confor- 
mity the present disposition of men or women was not enough inclined 
to submit, nor the king enough disposed to exact." — Contimiation of 
'Lord Clarendon's Life, p. 167. After some struggle, she submitted to the 



104: MEMOIRS 0¥ COUNT GRAMMONT, 

lier de Grammont, who had been long known to the royal 
family, and to most of the gentlemen of the court, had only 
to get acquainted with the ladies ; and for this he wanted no 
interpreter : they all spoke French enough to explain them- 
selves, and they all understood it sufficiently to comprehend 
what he had to say to them. 

The queen's court was always very numerous ; that of the 
duchess was less so, but more select. This princess* had a 
majestic au', a pretty good shape, not much beauty, a great 
deal of wit, and so just a discernment of merit, that, whoever 
of either sex were possessed of it, were sure to be distinguished 
by lier : an air of grandeur in all her actions made her be con- 
sidered as if born to support the rank which placed her so 
near the throne. The queen dowager returned after the mar- 
king's licentious conduct, and from that time lived upon easy terms with 
him, until his death. On the 30th March, 1692, she left Somerset-house, 
her usual residence, and retired to Lisbon, where she died, 31st Decem- 
ber, 1705, N. S. 

* " The Duchess of York," says Bishop Burnet, " was a very extra- 
ordinary woman. She had gi-eat knowledge, and a lively sense of 
things. She soon understood Avhat belonged to a j^rincess, and took 
state on her rather too much. She wrote well, and had begun the 
duke's life, of which she showed me a volume. It was all drawn from 
his journal ; and he intended to have employed me in carrying it on. 
She was bred in great strictness in religion, and practised secret con- 
fession. Morley told me he was her confessor. She began at twelve 
years old, and continued under his direction till, upon her father's dis- 
grace, he was put from the court. She was generous and friendly, but 
was too severe an enemy." — History of his Own Times, vol. i., p. 237. 
She was contracted to the duke at Breda, November 24, 1659, and 
married at Worcester-house, 3rd September, 1660, in the night, be- 
tween eleven and two, by Dr. Joseph Crowther, the duke's chaplain ; 
the Lord Ossory giving her in marriage. — Kennefs Register, p. 246. 
She died 31st March, 1671, having previously acknowledged herself to 
be a Eoman Catholic. — See also her character by Bishop Morley. — 
Kennefs liegister, p. 385, 390. 




i^ "T-T.:E.rT :d 'O yvA. t^]f. jRu 



riage of the princess royal,"^ and it .Vas in her court that the 
two others met. "^v; 

The Chevalier cle Grammont was soon lifcei^cJJ^aii 'parties : 
those who had not known him before were surprised to see a 
Frenchman of his disposition. The king's restoration having 
drawn a great number of foreigners from all countries to the 
court, the French were rather in disgrace ; for, instead of any 
persons of distinction having appeared among the first who 
came over, they had only seen some insignificant puppies, each 
striving to outdo the other in folly and extravagance, despising 
everything which was not like themselves, and thinking they 
introduced the hel air, by treating the English as strangers in 
their own country. 

The Chevalier de Grammont, on the contrary, was familiar 
with everybody : he gave in to their customs, eat of everything, 
and easily habituated himself to their manner of living, which 
he looked upon as neither vulgar nor barbarous ; and as he- 
showed a natural complaisance, instead of the impertinent af- 
fectation of the others, all the nation was charmed with a man, 

t Queen Henrietta Maria arrived at Whitehall, 2nd November, 
1660, after nineteen years absence. She was received with acclama- 
tions ; and bonfires were lighted on the occasion, both in London and 
Westminster. She returned to France with her daughter, the Princess 
Henrietta, 2nd January, 1660-1. She arrived again at Greenwich. 28th 
July, 1662, and continued to keep her court in England until July, 
1665, when she embarked for France, " and took so many things with 
her," says Lord Clarendon, " that it was thought by many that she did 
not intend ever to return into England. Whatever her intentions at 
that time were, she never did see England again, though she lived 
many years ^iiQTp—Gontinuatio7i of Clarendon's Life, p. 263. She 
died at Colombe, near Paris, in August, 1669 ; and her son, the Duke 
of York, pronounces this eulogium on her : " She excelled in all the 
good qualities of a good wife, of a good mother, and a good Christian.'^ 
. — Macpherson's Original Papers, vol. i. 



106 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

wlio agreeably indemnified them for what they had suffered 
from the folly of the former. 

He first of all made his court to the king, and was of all his 
parties of pleasure : he played high, and lost but seldom : he 
found so little difference in the manners and conversation of 
those with whom he chiefly associated, that he could scarcely 
believe he was out of his own country. Everything which 
could agTeeably engage a man of his disposition, presented 
itself to his different humours, as if the pleasures of the court 
of France had quitted it to accompany him in his exile. 

He was every day engaged for some entertainment ; and 
those who wished to regale him in their turn, were obliged to 
take their measures in time, and to invite him eight or ten 
days before hand. These importunate civilities became tire- 
some in the long run ; but as they seemed indispensable to a 
man of his disposition, and as they were the most genteel 
people of the court who loaded him with them, he submitted 
with a good grace ; but always reserved to himself the liberty 
of supping at home. 

His supper hour depended upon play, and was indeed very 
uncertain ; but his supper was always served up with the 
greatest elegance, by the assistance of one or two servants, 
who were excellent caterers and good attendants, but under- 
stood cheating still better. 

The company, at these little entertainments, was not nume- 
rous, but select : the first people of the court were conmionly 
of the party ; but the man, who of all others suited him best 
-on these occasions, never failed to attend : that was the cele- 
brated Saint Evremond, who with gTeat exactness, but too 
great freedom, had written the history of the treaty of the 
Pjrrenees : an exile like himseK, though for very different 
reasons. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 107 

Happily for them both, fortune had, some time before the 
arrival of the Chevalier cle Granimont, brought Saint Evre- 
mond* to England, after he had had leisure to repent in Hol- 
land of the beauties of that famous satire. 

* Charles de St. Denis, Seigneur de Saint Evremond, was boru at 
St. Denis le Guast, in Lower Normandy, on the 1st of April, 1613. 
He was educated at Paris, with a view to the profession of the law ; 
but he early quitted that pursuit, and went into the army, where he 
signalized himself on several occasions. At the time of the Pyrenean 
treaty, he wi'ote a letter censuring the conduct of Cardinal Mazarin , 
which occasioned his being banished France. He first took refuge 
in Holland; but, in 1662, he removed into England, where he con- 
tinued, with a short interval, during the rest of his life. In 1675, 
the Duchess of Mazarin came to reside in England ; and with her St. 
Evremond passed much of his time. He preserved his health and 
cheerfulness to a very great age, and died 9tli of September, 1703, 
aged ninety years, five months, and twenty days. His biographer 
Monsieur Des Maizeaux, describes him thus : " M. de St. Evremond 
had blue, lively, and sparkling eyes, a large forehead, thick eyebrows, 
a handsome mouth, and a sneering physiognomy. Twenty years before 
his death, a wen grew between his eye-brows, which in time increased 
to a considerable bigness. He once designed to have it cut off, but as 
it was no ways troublesome to him, and he little regarded that kind of 
deformity, Dr. Le Fevre advised him to let it alone, lest such an opera- 
tion should be attended with dangerous symptoms in a man of his age. 
He would often make merry with himself on account of his wen, his great 
leather cap, and grey hair, which he chose to wear rather than a peri- 
wig.'^ St. Evremond was a kind of Epicurean philosopher, and drew 
his own character in the following terms, in a letter to Count de Gram- 
mont. " He was a philosopher equally removed from superstition and 
impiety ; a voluptuary who had no less aversion from debauchery than 
inclination for pleasure : a man who had never felt the pressure of 
indigence, and who had never been in possession of affluence : he lived 
in a condition despised by those who have everything, envied by those 
who have nothing, and relished by those who make their reason the 
foundation of their happiness. When he was young he hated profusion, 
being persuaded that some degree of wealth was necessary for the con- 
veniencies of a long life : when he was old, he could hardly endure 
economy, being of opinion that want is little to be dreaded when a man 



108 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

The Chevalier was from that time liis hero : they had each 
of them attained to all the advantages which a knowledge of 
the world, and the society of people of fashion, could add to 
the improvement of good natural talents. Saint Evremond, 
less engaged in frivolous pursuits, frequently gave little lec- 
tures to tlie Chevalier, and by making observations upon the 
past, endeavoured to set him right for the present, or to in- 
struct him for the future. " You are now," said he, " in the 
most agreeable way of life a man of your temper could wish 
for : you are the delight of a youthful, sprightly, and gallant 
court : the king has never a party of pleasure to which you 
are not admitted. You play from morning to night, or, to 
s^peak more properly, from night to morning, without knowing 
what it is to lose. Far from losing the money you brought 



has but little time left to be miserable. He was well pleased with 
nature, and did not complain of fortune. He hated vice, was indulgent 
to frailties, and lamented misfortunes. He sought not after the failings 
of men Avith a design to expose them ; he only found what was ridicu- 
lous in them for his own amusement : he had a secret pleasure in dis- 
covering this himself, and would, indeed, have had a still greater in 
discovering this to others, had not he been checked by discretion. Life, 
in his opinion, was too short to read all sorts of books, and to burden 
one's memory with a multitude of things, at the expense of one's judg- 
ment. He did not apply himself to the most learned writings, in order 
to acquire knowledge, but to the most rational, to fortify his reason : he 
sometimes chose the most delicate, to give delicacy to his own taste, and 
sometimes the most agreeable, to give the same to his own genius. It 
remains that he should be described, such as he was, in friendship and 
in religion. In friendship he was more constant than a philosopher, and 
more sincere than a young man of good nature without experience. 
With regard to religion, his piety consisted more in justice and charity 
than in penance or mortification. He placed his confidence in God, 
trusting in His goodness, and hoping that in the bosom of His provi- 
dence he should find his repose and his felicity." — He was buried in 
Westminster Abbey. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. '109 

hither, as you have done in other places, you have doubled it, 
trebled it, multiplied it almost beyond your wishes, notwith- 
standing the exorbitant expenses you are imperceptibly led 
into. This, without doubt, is the most desirable situation in 
the world : stop here. Chevalier, and do not rum your affairs 
by returning to your old sins. Avoid love, by pursuing other 
pleasures : love has never been favourable to you.* You are 
sensible how much gallantry has cost you ; and every person 
here is not so well acquainted with that matter as yourself. 
Play boldly : entertain the cou.rt with your wit : divert the 
king by your ingenious and entertaining stories ; but avoid all 
.engagements which can deprive you of this merit, and make 
you forget you are a stranger and an exile in this delightful 
country. 

* " Saint Evremond and Bussi-Rabutin, who have also written on the 
life of the Count de Grammont, agree with Hamilton in representing 
him as a man less fortunate in love than at play ; not seeking for any- 
other pleasure in the conquest of a woman but that of depriving an- 
other of her ; and not able to persuade any one of his passion, because 
he spoke to her, as at all other times, in jest : but cruelly revenging 
himself on those who refused to hear him ; corrupting the servants of 
those whom they did favour, counterfeiting their handwriting, inter- 
cepting their letters, disconcerting their rendezvous ; in one word, 
disturbing their amoars by everything which a rival, prodigal, in- 
xiefatigable, and full of artifice, can he imagined to do. The straitest 
ties of blood could not secure any one from his detraction. His 
nephew, the Count de Guiche, was a victim : he had in truth, offended 
the Count de Grammont, by having supplanted him in the affection of 
the Countess de Fiesque, whom he loved afterwards for the space of 
twelve years. Here was enough to irritate the self-love of a man less 
persuaded of his own merit.'' 

Hamilton does not describe the exterior of the count, but accuses 
Bussi-Rabutin of having, in the following description, given a more 
iigreeable than faithful portrait of him : " The chevalier had laughing 
eyes, a well-formed nose, a beautiful mouth, a small dimple in the chin, 
which had an agreeable effect on his countenance, a certain delicacy in 
his physiognomy, and a handsome shape, if he had not stooped." 



110 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

"Fortune may grow weary of befriending you at play. 
Wliat would have become of you, if your last misfortune had 
happened to you when your money had been at as low an ebb 
as I have known it ? Attend carefully then to this necessary 
deity, and renounce the other. You will be missed at the 
court of France before you grow weary of this ; but be that as 
it may, lay up a good store of money : when a man is rich he 
consoles himself for his banishment. I know you well, my 
<lear Chevalier : if you take it into your head to seduce a lady, 
or to supplant a lover, your gains at play will by no means 
suffice for presents and for bribes : no, let play be as produc- 
tive to you as it can be, you will never gain so much by it as 
you will lose by love, if you yield to it. 

" You are in possession of a thousand splendid qualifications 
which distinguish you here: generous, benevolent, elegant, 
and polite ; and for your engaging wit, inimitable. Upon a 
strict examination, perhaps, all this would not be found liter- 
ally true ; but these are brilliant marks ; and since it is granted 
that you possess them, do not show yourself here in any other 
light : for, in love, if your manner of paying your addresses 
can be so denominated, you do not in the least resemble the 
picture I have just now drawn." 

"My little philosophical monitor," said the Chevalier de 
Grrammont, " you talk here as if you were the Cato of l^ov- 
mandy." " Do I say anything untrue ?" replied Saint Evre- 
mond : " Is it not a fact, that as soon as a woman pleases you, 
your first care is to find out whether she has any other lover, 
and your second how to plague her ; for the gaining her affec- 
tion is the last thing in your thoughts. You seldom engage 
in intrigues, but to disturb the happiness of others : a mistress 
who has no lovers would have no charms for you, and if she 
has, she would be invaluable. Do not all the places through 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. Ill 

which you have passed furnish me with a thousand examples ? 
Shall I mention your couiJ d'essai at Turin ? the trick you 
2>layed at Fontainebleau, where you robbed the Princess Pala- 
tine's courier upon the highway ? and for what purpose was 
this fine exploit, but to put you in possession of some proofs 
of her affection for another, in order to give her uneasiness 
and confusion by reproaches and menaces, which you had no 
right to use ? 

" Who but yourself ever took it into his head to place him- 
self in ambush upon the stairs, to disturb a man in an in- 
trigue, and to pull him back by the leg when he was half 
way up to his mistress's chamber ? yet did not you use your 
friend the Duke of Buckingham in this manner, when he was 

stealing at night to ^ although you were not in the least his 

rival ? How many spies did not you send out after d'Olonne ?* 
How many tricks, frauds, and persecutions, did you not prac- 
tise for the Countess de Piesque,t who perhaps might have 

* Mademoiselle de la Loupe, who is mentioned in De Eetz's Memoirs, 
vol. iii., p. 95. She married the Count d'Olonne, and became famous 
for her gallantries, of which the Count de Bussi speaks so much, in his 
History of the Amours of the Gauls. Her maiden name was 
Catherine Henrietta d'Angennes, and she was daughter to Charles 
d'Angennes, Lord of la Loupe, Baron of Amberville, by Mary du 
Raynier. There is a long character of her by St. Evremond, in his 
works, vol. i., p. 17. The same writer, mentioning the concern of some 
ladies for the death of the Duke of Candale, says, " But his true mis- 
tress (the Countess d'Olonne) made herself famous by the excess of her 
affliction, and had, in my opinion, been happy, if she had kept it on 
to the last. One amour is creditable to a lady ; and I know not whether 
it be not more advantageous to their reputation than never to have 
been in love." — St. Evremond' s Works, vol ii., p. 24. 

t This lady seems to have been the wife of Count de Fiesque, who 
is mentioned by St. Evremond, as " fruitful in military chimeras ; 
who, besides the post of lieutenant-general, which he had at Paris, 
obtained a particular commission for the beating up of the quarters. 



I 



112 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

been constant to you, if you had not yourself forced her to be 
otherwise ? But, to conchide, for the enumeration of your 
iniquities would be endless, give me leave to ask you, how 
you came here ? Are not we obliged to that same evil genius 
of yours, which rashly inspired you to intermeddle even in 
the gallantries of your prince ? Show some discretion then 
on this point here, I beseech you; all the beauties of the 
court are already engaged; and however docile the English 
may be with respect to their wives, they can -by no means 
bear the inconstancy of their mistresses, nor patiently suffer 
the advantages of a rival : suffer them therefore to remain in 
tranquillity, and do not gain their ill-will for no purpose. 

" You certainly will meet with no success with such as are 
Tinmarried : honourable views, and good landed property, are 
required here ; and you possess as much of the one as the 
other. Every country has its customs : in Holland, unmarried 
ladies are of easy access, and of tender dispositions ; but as 
soon as "ever they are married, they become like so many Lu- 
cretias : in France, the women are great coquettes before 
marriage, and still more so afterwards ; but here it is a miracle 
if a young lady yields to any proposal but that of matrimony : 
and I do not believe you yet so destitute of grace as to think 
of that." 

Such were Saint Evremond's lectures; but they were all 
to no purpose : the Chevalier de Grammont only attended to 
them for his amusement ; and though he was sensible of the 
truth they contained, he paid little regard to them : in fact, 



and other rash and sudden exploits, which may be resolved upon whilst 
one is singing the air of La Barre, or dancing a minuet." — St. Evre- 
moncTs Works, vol. i., p. 6. The count's name occurs very frequently 
in De Eetz's Memoirs. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 113 

being weary of the favours of fortune, lie had just resolved to 
pursue those of love. 

Mrs. Middleton was the first whom he attacked : she was 
one of the handsomest women in town, though then little 
known at court : so much of the coquette as to discourage no 
one ; and so great was her desire of appearing magnificently, 
that she was ambitious to vie with those of the greatest for- 
tunes, though unable to support the expense. All this suited 
the Chevalier de Grammont ; therefore, without trifiing away 
his time in useless ceremonies, he applied to her porter for 
admittance, and chose one of her lovers for his confidant. 

This lover, who was not deficient in wit, was at that time 
a Mr. Jones, afterwards Earl of Kanelagh:"^ what engaged 
him to serve the Chevalier de Grammont, was to traverse the 
designs of a most dangerous rival, and to relieve himself from 
an expense which began to lie too heavy upon him. In both 
respects the Chevalier answered his purpose. 

Immediately spies were placed, letters and, presents flew 
about : he was received as well as he could wish : he was per- 
mitted to ogle : he was even ogled again ; but this was aU : 
he found that the fair one was very willing to accept, but 
was tardy in making returns. This induced him, without 
giving up his pretensions to her, to seek his fortune else- 
where. 

Among the queen's maids of honour, there was one called 

* Richard, the first Earl of Eanelagh, was member of the Enghsh house 
of commons, and vice-treasurer of Ireland, 1674. He held several 
offices under King William and Queen Anne, and died 5th January^ 
1711. Bishop Burnet says, " Lord Eanelagh was a young man of great 
parts, and as great vices : he had a pleasantness in his conversation 
that took much with the king ; and had a great dexterity in business."" 
— History of his Own Times, vol. i., p. 373. 



114 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

Warmestre :^ she was a beauty very different from the other. 
Mrs. Middleton-|- was well made, fair, and delicate ; but had 
in her behaviour and discourse something precise and affected. 
The indolent languishing airs she gave herself did not please 
everybody: people grew weary of those sentiments of deli- 
cacy, which she endeavoured to explain without understand- 
ing them herself; and instead of entertaining she became 
tiresome. In these attempts she gave herself so much trouble, 
that she made the company uneasy, and her ambition to pass 
for a wit, only established her the reputation of being tire- 
some, wliich lasted much longer than her beauty. 

Miss Warmestre was brown : she had no shape at all, and 
still less air; but she had a very lively complexion, very 
sparkling eyes, tempting looks, which spared nothing that 
might engage a lover, and promised everything which could 
preserve him. In the end, it very plainly appeared that her 

* Lord Orford observes, that there is a family of the name of War- 
minster settled at Worcester, of which five persons are interred in the 
cathedral. One of them was dean of the church, and his epitaph 
mentions his attachment to the royal family. Miss Warminster, how- 
ever, was probably only a fictitious name. The last Earl of Arran, 
who lived only a short time after the period these transactions are 
supposed to have happened, asserted, that the maid of honour here 
spoken of was Miss M^try Kirk, sister of the Countess of Oxford, and 
who, three years after she was driven from court, married Sir Thomas 
Vernon, under the supposed character of a widow. It was not im- 
probable she then assumed the name of Warminster. In the year 
1669, the following is the list of the maids of honour to the queen : — 1. 
Mrs. Simona Carew. 2. Mrs. Catherine Sainton. 3. Mrs. Henrietta 
Maria Price. 4. Mrs. Winifred Wells. The lady who had then the 
office of mother of the maids was Lady Saunderson. — See Chamher- 
layn^s Anglice Notitia, 1669, p. 301. 

t Mrs. Jane Middleton, according to Mrs. Granger, was a woman of 
small fortune, but great beauty. Her portrait is in the gallery at 
Windsor. 




'KII^^.K, ©tlj.«rwifr MISS ITAlRMiE, t^ 




STT.Ie^-T. 



MISS HT]EWART,,aftei"w':ai-cls jD^I^'rHlISi^ OF l^irHM0K3:) = 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 115 

consent went along with lier eyes to the last degree of indis- 
cretion. 

It- was between these two goddesses that the inclinations of 
the Chevalier de Grammont stood wavering, and between 
whom his presents were divided. Perfumed gloves, pocket 
looking-glasses, elegant boxes, apricot paste, essences, and 
other small wares of love, arrived every week from Paris, 
with some new suit for himself ; but, with regard to more 
solid presents, such as ear-rings, diamonds, brilliants, and 
bright guineas, all this was to be met with of the best sort in 
London, and the ladies were as well pleased with them as if 
they had been brought from abroad. > '^t)-. V> 

Miss Stewart's* beauty began at this time to be celebrated. 

* Frances, Duchess of Richmond, daughter of Walter Stewart, son 
of Walter, Baron of Blantyre, and wife of Charles Stewart, Duke of 
Richmond and Lennox : a lady of exquisite beauty, if justly repre- 
sented in a puncheon made by Roettiere, his majesty's engraver of 
the mint, in order to strike a medal of her, which exhibits the finest 
face that perhaps was ever seen. The king was supposed to be des- 
perately in love with her ; and it became common discourse, that there 
was a design on foot to get him divorced from the queen, in order to 
marry this lady. Lord Clarendon was thought to have promoted the 
match with the Duke of Richmond, thereby to prevent the other 
design, which he imagined would hurt the king's character, embroil 
his affairs at present, and entail all the evils of a disputed succession 
on the nation. Whether he actually encouraged the Duke of Rich- 
mond's marriage, doth not appear ; but it is certain that he was so 
strongly possessed of the king's inclination to a divorce, that, even after 
his disgrace, he was persuaded the Duke of Buckingham had under- 
taken to carry that matter through the parliament. It is certain too 
that the king considered him as the chief promoter of Miss Stewart's 
marriage, and resented it in the highest degree. The ceremony took 
place privately, and it was publicly declared in April, 1667. From one 
of Sir Robert Southwell's dispatches, dated Lisbon, December i:\, 1667, 
it appears that the report of the queen's intended divorce had not 
then subsided in her native country. — History of the Revolutions oj 
Fortugal, 1740, p. 352. The duchess became a widow in 1672, and 

8—2 



116 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

The Countess of Castlemaine perceived that the king paid 
attention to her; but, instead of being alarmed at it, she 
favoured, as far as she was able, this new inclination, whether 
from an indiscretion common to all those who think them- 
selves superior to the rest of mankind, or whether she de- 
signed, by this pastime, to divert the king's attention from 
the commerce which she held with Jermyn. She was not 
satisfied with appearing without any degree of uneasiness at 
a preference which all the court began to remark : she even 
affected to make Miss Stewart her favourite, and invited her 
to all the entertamments she made for the king ; and, in con- 
fidence of her own charms, with the greatest indiscretion, she 
often kept her to sleep. The king, who seldom neglected to visit 
the countess before she rose, seldom failed likewise to find Miss 
Stewart in bed with her. The most indifferent objects have 
cliarms in a new attachment : however, the imprudent countess 
was not jealous of this rival's appearing with her, in such a 
situation, being confident, that whenever she thought fit, she 
could triumph over all the advantages which these opportuni- 
ties could afford Miss Stewart ; but she was quite mistaken. 

The Chevalier de Grammont took notice of this conduct, 
without being able to comprehend it ; but, as he was atten- 
tive to the inclinations of the king, he began to make his 
court to him, by enhancing the merit of this new mistress. 
Her figure was more showy than engaging: it was hardly 
possible for a woman to have less wit, or more beauty: all 
her features were fine and regular; but her shape was not 
good : yet she was slender, straight enough, and taller than 



died October 15, 1702. See Burnett History^ Ludlow'' s Memoirs, and 
Cartels Life of the Duhe of Ormond. A figurfe in wax of this duchess 
is still to be seen in Westminster-abbey. / 




'M^f ■ IIX '3 F 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 117 

the generality of women : she was very graceful, danced weU, 
and spoke French better than her mother tongue : she was 
well bred, and possessed, in perfection, that air of dress 
which is so much admired, and w]:ich cannot be attained, 
unless it be taken when young, in France. While her charms 
were gaining ground in the king's heart, the Countess of 
Castlemaine amused herseK in the gratification of all her 
caprices. 

Mrs. Hyde* was. one of the first of the beauties who were 
prejudiced with a blind prepossession in favour of Jerm)rii: 
she had just married a man whom she loved: by this mar- 
riage she became sister-in-law to the duchess, brilliant by her 
own native lustre, and full of pleasantry and wit.: -'However, 
she was of opinion, that so long as she was not talked of on 
account of Jermyn, all her other advantages would avail 
nothing for her. glory: it was, therefore, to receive this 
finishing stroke, that she resolved to throw herself into his 
arms. 

She was of a middle size, had a skin of a dazzling white- 
ness, fine hands, and a foot surprisingly beautiful, even in 
England : long custom had given such a languishing tender- 
ness to her looks, that she never opened her eyes but like a 
Chinese; and, when she ogled, one would have thought she 
was doing something else. ^ 

Jermyn accepted of her at first ; but, being soon puzzled 
what to do with^ her, he thought it best to sacrifice her to 
Lady Castlemaine. The sacrifice was far from being displeasing 
to her ; it was much to her glory to have carried off Jermyn 
from so many competitors ; but this was of no consequence in 
the end. 

* Theodosia, daughter of Arthur, Lord Capel, first wife of Henry 
Hyde, the second Earl of Clarendon. 



118 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

Jacob HaU (tlie famous rope-dancer)* was at that time in 
vogue in London ; his strength and agility charmed in public, 
even to a wish to know what he was in private ; for he ap- 
peared, in his tumbling dress, to be quite of a different make, and 
to have limbs very different from the fortunate Jermyn. The 
tuml)ler did not deceive Lady Castlemaine's expectations, if 
report may be believed ; and as was intimated in many a song, 
much more to the honour of the rope-dancer than of the 
countess; but she despised all these rumours, and only ap- 
peared still more handsome. 

While satire thus found employment at her cost, there were 
continual contests for the favours of another beauty, who was 
not much more niggardly in that way than herself ; this was 
the Countess of Shrewsbury. 

The Earl of Arran, who had been one of her first admirers, 
was not one of the last to desert her ; this beauty, less famous 
for her conquests than for the misfortunes she occasioned, 
placed her gTcatest merits in being more capricious than any 
other. As no person could boast of being the only one in her 

* " There was a symmetry and elegance, as well as strength and 
agility, in the person of Jacob Hall, which was much admired by the 
ladies, who regarded him as a due composition of Hercules and Adonis. 
The open-hearted Duchess of Cleveland was said to have been in love 
with this rope-dancer and Goodman the player at the same time. The 
former received a salary from her grace." — Granger, vol. ii,, part 2, p. 
461. In reference to the connection between the duchess and the rope- 
dancer, Mr. Pope introduced the following lines into his " Sober Advice 
from Horace :" 

" What push'd poor E s on th' imperial whore ? 

'Twas but to be where Charles had been before. 

The fatal steel unjustly was apply'd, 

When not his lust offended, but his pride : 

Too hard a penance for defeated sin, 

Himself shut out, and Jacob Hall let in." 




^I^AC OB ZIAXX 




COHTKTiF: ^S S €)'¥ ^M PxjElf § BFP. Y. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 119 

favour ; so no person could complain of having been ill re- 
ceived. 

Jermyn was displeased that she had made no advances to 
him, without considering that she had no leisure for it ; his 
pride was offended ; but the attempt which he made to take 
her from the rest of her lovers was very ill-advised. 

Thomas Howard, brother to the Earl of Carlisle * was one of 
them ; there was not a braver, nor a more genteel man in 
England ; and though he was of a modest demeanour, and his 
manners appeared gentle and pacific, no person was more 
spirited nor more passionate. Lady Shrewsbury, inconsider- 
ately returning the first ogles of the invincible Jermyn, did 
not at all make herseK more agreeable to Howard ; that, how- 
ever, she paid little attention to ; yet, as she designed to keep 
fair with him, she consented to accept an entertainment which 
he had often proposed, and which she durst no longer refuse. 
A place of amusement, called Spring Garden,-|- was fixed upon 
for the scene of this entertainment. 

* Thomas Howard, fourth son of Sir William Howard. He married 
Mary, Duchess of Eichmond, daughter of George Yilliers, Duke of 
Buckingham, and died 1678. — See Madame Dimois' Memoirs of the 
English Court, 8vo., 1708. 

t This place appears, from the description of its situation in the 
following extract, and in some ancient plans, to have been near Charing- 
Cross, probably where houses are now built, though still retaining the 
name of gardens. The entertainments usually to be met with there are 
thus described by a contemporary writer : " The manner is, as the 
company returns, (i.e. from Hyde Park,) to alight at the Spring Garden, 
so called in order to the park, as our Tuileries is to the course : the 
enclosure not disagreeable, for the solemness of the grove, the warbling 
of the birds, and as it opens into the spacious walks at St. Jameses ; 
but the company walk in it at such a rate, you would think all the 
ladies were so many Atalantas contending with their wooers ; and, my 
lord, there was no appearance that I should prove the Hippomenes, who 
could with much ado keep pace with them : but as fast as they run, 



120 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

As soon as the party was settled, Jenny n was privately 
informed of it. Howard had a company in the regiment of 
guards, and one of the soldiers of his company played pretty 
well on the bagpipes ; this soldier was therefore at the enter- 
tainment. Jermyn was at the garden, as by chance ; and, 
puffed up with his former successes, he trusted to his vic- 
torious air for accomplishing this last enterprise ; he no sooner 
appeared on the walks, than her ladyship showed herself upon 
the balcony. 

I know not how she stood affected to her hero ; but Howard 
did not fancy him much ; this did not prevent his coming up 
stairs upon the first sign she made to him ; and not content 
Avitli acting the petty tyrant, at an entertainment not made 
for himself, no sooner had he gained the soft looks of the fair 
one, than he exhausted all his common-place, and all his stock 
of low irony, in railing at the entertainment, and ridiculing the 
music. 

Howard possessed but little raillery, and still less patience; 
three times was the banquet on the point of being stained 
with blood; but three times did he suppress his natural 



they stay there so long as if they wanted not time to finish the race ; 
for it is usual here to find some of the young company till midnight ; 
and the thickets of the garden seem to be contrived to all advantages 
of gallantry, after they have refreshed with the collation, which is here 
seldom omitted, at a certain cabaret, in the middle of this paradise, 
where i^the forbidden fruits are certain trifling tarts, neats' tongues, 
salicious meats, and bad Rhenish, for which the gallants pay sauce, as 
indeed they do at all such houses throughout England ; for they think 
it a piece of frugality beneath them to bargain or account for what they 
eat in any place, however unreasonably imposed upon.'' — Character of 
England, 12mo., 1659, p. 66, written, it is said, by John Evelyn, Esq. 
Spring Garden is the scene of intrigue in many of our comedies of this 
period. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 121 

impetuosity, in order to satisfy his resentment elsewhere with 
^eater freedom. 

Jermyn, without paying the least attention to his ill- 
humour, pursued his point, continued talking to Lady 
Shrewsbury, and did not leave her until the repast was ended. 

He went to bed, proud of this triumph, and was awakened 
next morning by a challenge. He took for his second Giles 
Eawlings, a man of intrigue, and a deep player. Howard took 
Dillon, who was dexterous and brave, much of a gentleman, 
and, unfortunately, an intimate friend to Eawlings. 

In this duel fortune did not side with the votaries of love : 
poor Eawlings was left stone dead ; and Jermyn, having re- 
ceived three wounds, was carried to his uncle's, with very 
little signs of life. 

While the report of this event engaged the courtiers accord- 
ing to their several interests, the Chevalier de Grammont was 
informed by Jones, his friend, his confidant, and his rival, that 
there was another gentleman very attentive to Mrs. Middle- 
ton : this was Montagu,* no very dangerous rival on account 
of his person, but very much to be feared for his assiduity, 

* Ralph Montagu, second son of Edward, Lord Montagu. He was 
master of the horse to the queen, and, in 1669, was sent ambassador- 
extraordinary to France ; on his return from whence, in January, 1672, 
he was sworn of the privy-council. He afterwards became master of 
the great wardrobe, and was sent a second time to France. He took a 
very decided part in the prosecution of the popish plot, in 1678 ; but on 
the sacrifice of his friend, Lord Eussell, he retired to Montpelier during 
the rest of King Charles's reign. He was active at the Eevolution, and 
soon after created Viscount Monthermer, and Earl of Montagu. In 
1705 he became Marquis of Monthermer, and Duke of Montagu. He 
died 7th March, 1709, in his 73rd year, leaving behind him the charac- 
ter of a very indulgent parent, a kind and bountiful master, a very 
hearty friend, a noble patron of men of merit, and a true assertor of 
English liberty. 



122 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

the acuteness of liis wit, and for some other talents which are 
of importance, when a man is once permitted to display 
them. 

There needed not half so much to bring into action all 
the Chevalier's vivacity, in pomt of competition: vexation 
awakened in him whatever expedients the . desire of revenge, 
malice, and experiepce, could suggest, for troubling the designs 
of a rival, and tormentino- a mistress. His first intention was 
to return her letters, and demand his presents, before he began 
to tease her; but, rejectmg tliis project, as ^ too weak a revenge 
for the injustice done liim, he was upon the point of conspiring 
the destruction of poor Mrs. Middleton, whei^, by accident, he 
met ■\\'ith Miss Hamilton. Prom tliis moment ended all his 
resentment against Mrs. Middleton, and all his attachment to 
Miss Warmestre : no longer was he inconstant : no longer were 
liis wishes fluctuating: this object fixed them all; and, of 
all liis former habits, none remained, except uneasiness and 
jealousy. 

Here his first care was to please ; but he very plainly saw, 
that to succeed he must act quite in a different manner to that 
which he had been accustomed to. 

The family of the Hamiltons, being very numerous, lived in 
a large and commodious house, near the court : the Duke of 
Ormond's family was continually with them ; and here persons 
of the gTcatest distinction in London, constantly met : the 
Chevalier de Grammont was here received in a manner agree- 
able to his merit and quality, and was astonished that he had 
spent so much time in other j)laces ; for, after having made 
this acquaintance, he was desirous of no other. 

All the world agreed that Miss Hamilton* was worthy of 

* Elizabeth, sister of the author of these Memoirs, and daughter of 
Sir George Hamilton, foui^th son of James, the first Earl of Abercorn, 




ril :S S I1AIM1X.T r)T^ 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 123 

the most ardent and sincere affection : nobody could boast a 
nobler birth, nothing was more charming than her person. 



by Mary, third daughter of Thomas, Yiscount Thurles, eldest son of 
Walter, eleventh Earl of Ormond, and sister to James, the first Duke 
of Ormond. She married Philibert, Count of Grammont, the hero of 
these Memoirs, by whom she had two daughters : Claude Charlotte, 
married, 3rd April, 1694, to Henry, Earl of Stafford; and another, who 
became superior, or abbess, of the Canonesses in Lorraine. 



124 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 



CHAPTEE VII. 

The Chevalier de Grammont, never satisfied in his amours, 
was fortunate without being beloved, and became jealous with- 
out having an attachment. 

Mrs. Middleton, as we have said, was going to experience 
what methods he could invent to torment, after having experi- 
enced his powers of pleasing. 

He went in search of her to the queen's drawing-room, 
where there was a ball ; there she was ; but fortunately for 
her. Miss Hamilton was there likewise. It had so happened, 
that of all the beautiful women at court, this was the lady 
whom he had least seen, and whom he had heard most com- 
mended ; this, therefore, was the first time that he had a close 
view of her, and he soon found that he had seen nothing at 
court before this instant; he asked her some questions, to 
which she replied ; as long as she was dancing, his eyes were 
fixed upon her ; and from this time he no longer resented Mrs. 
Middleton's conduct. Miss Hamilton was at the happy age 
when the charms of the fair sex begin to bloom ; she had the 
finest shape, the loveliest neck, and most beautiful arms in the 
world ; she was majestic and graceful in all her movements ; 
and she was the original after which all the ladies copied in 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 125 

their taste and air of dress. Her forehead was open, white, 
and smooth ; her hair was well set, and fell with ease into that 
natural order which it is so difficult to imitate. Her com- 
plexion was possessed of a certain freshness, not to be equal- 
led by borrowed colours : her eyes were not large, but they 
were lively, and capable of expressing whatever she pleased : 
her mouth was full of graces, and her contour uncommonly 
perfect : nor was her nose, which was small, delicate, and 
turned up, the least ornament of so lovely a face. In fine, her 
air, her carriage, and the numberless graces dispersed over her 
whole person, made the Chevalier de G-rammont not doubt 
but that she was possessed of every other qualification. Her 
mind was a proper companion for such a form : she did not 
endeavour to sliine in conversation by those sprightly sallies- 
which only puzzle; and with still greater care she avoided 
that affected solemnity in her discourse, which produces 
stupidity ; but, without any eagerness to talk, she just said 
what she ought, and no more. She had an admirable discern- 
ment in distinguishing between solid and false wit ; and far 
from making an ostentatious display of her abilities, she was 
reserved, though very just in her decisions : her sentiments 
were always noble, and even lofty to the highest extent, when 
there was occasion ; nevertheless, she was less prepossessed 
with her own merit than is usually the case with those who 
have so much. Formed, as we have described, she could not 
fail of commanding love ; but so far was she from courting it, 
that she was scrupulously nice with respect to those whose 
merit might entitle them to form any pretensions to her. 

The more the Chevalier de Grammont was convinced of 
these truths, the more did he endeavour to please and engage 
her in his turn : his entertaining wit, his conversation, lively, 
easy, and always distinguished by novelty, constantly gained 



126 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

him attention ; but he was much embarrassed to find that pre- 
sents, which so easily made their way in his former method of 
courtship, were no longer proper in the mode which, for the 
future, he was obliged to pursue. 

He had an old valet-de-chambre, called Termes, a bold 
thief, and a still more impudent liar : he used to send this man 
from London every week, on the commissions we have before 
mentioned ; but after the disgrace of Mrs. Middleton, and the 
adventure of Miss Warmestre, Mr. Termes was only employed 
in bringing his master's clothes from Paris, and he did not 
always acquit himself with the greatest fidelity in that em- 
ployment, as will appear hereafter. 

The queen was a woman of sense, and used all her endea- 
vours to please the king, by that kind obliging behaviour 
which her affection made natural to her : she was particularly 
attentive in promoting every sort of pleasure and amusement 
especially such as she could be present at herself. 

She had contrived, for this purpose, a splendid masquerade, 
where those, whom she appointed to dance, had to represent 
different nations; she allowed some time for preparation, 
during which we may suppose, the tailors, the mantua-makers, 
and embroiderers, were not idle : nor were the beauties, who 
were to be there, less anxiously employed; however, Miss 
Hamilton found time enough to invent two or three little 
tricks, in a conjuncture so favourable, for turning into ridicule 
the vain fools of the court. There were two who were very 
eminently such : the one was Lady Muskerry,"^ who had 

* Lady Margaret, only child of Ulick, fifth Earl of Clanricade, by 
Lady Anne Compton, daugMer of William, Earl of Northampton. She 
was three times married : — 1. to Charles, Lord Viscount Muskerry, 
who lost his life in the great sea-fight with the Dutch, 3rd June, 1665. 
2. In 1676, to Eobert Villiers, called Viscount Purbeck, who died in 
1685. 3. To Eobert Fielding, Esq, She died in August, 1698. Lord 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 127 

married her coiisin-german ; and the other a maid of honour 
to the Duchess, called Blague."^ 

The first, whose husband most assuredly never married her 
for beauty, was made like the generality of rich heiresses, to 
whom just nature seems sparing of her gifts, in proportion as 
they are loaded with those of fortune : she had the shape of a 
woman big with child, without being so ; but had a very good 
reason for limping ; for, of two legs uncommonly short, one 
was much shorter than the other. A face suitable to this de- 
scription gave the finishing stroke to this disagreeable figure. 

Miss Blague was another species of ridicule : her shape 
was neither good nor bad : her countenance bore the ap- 
pearance of the greatest insipidity, and her complexion was 
the same all over ; with two little hollow eyes, adorned with 
white eye-lashes, as long as one's finger. With these at- 
tractions she placed herself in ambuscade to surprise unwary 



Orford, by mistake, calls her Elizabeth, daughter of the Earl of Kildare. 
— See Note on vol ii., p. 210, 

* It appears, by Ghamherlayne^s Anglioe Notitia, 1669, that this lady, 
or perhaps her sister, continued one of the duchess's maids of honour at 
that period. The list, at that time, was as follows : — 1. Mrs. Arabella 
Churchill. 2. Mrs. Dorothy Howard. 3. Mrs. Anne Ogle. 4. Mrs. 
Mary Blague. The mother of the maids then was Mrs. Lucy Wise. 
Miss Blague performed the part of Diana, in Crown's Calisto, acted at 
court in 1675, and was then styled late maid of honour to the queen. 
Lord Orford, however, it should be observed, calls her Henrietta Maria, 
daughter of Colonel Blague. It appears she became the wife of Sir 
Thomas Yarborough, of Snaith, in Yorkshire. She was also, he says, 
sister of the wife of Sydney, Lord Godolphin. That nobleman married, 
according to Collins, in his peerage, Margaret, at that time maid of 
honour to Katherine, Queen of England, fourth daughter, and one of 
the co-heirs of Thomas Blague, Esq., groom of the bedchamber to 
Charles I. and Charles II., colonel of a regiment of foot, and governor 
of Wallingford during the civil wars, and governor of Yarmouth and 
Languard Fort after the Restoration. 



128 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

hearts ; but she might have done so in vain, had it not been 
for the arrival of the Marquis de Brisacier. Heaven seemed 
to have made them for each other : he had in his person and 
manners every requisite to dazzle a creature of her character : 
he talked eternally, without saying anything, and in his 
dress exceeded the most extravagant fashions. Miss Blague 
believed that all this finery was on her account ; and the 
Marquis believed that her long eyelashes had never taken 
aim at any but liimself : everybody perceived their inclina- 
tion for each other ; but they had only conversed by mute 
interpreters, when Miss Hamilton took it into her head to 
intermeddle in their affairs. 

She was willing to do everything in order, and therefore 
began with her cousin Muskerry, on account of her rank. 
Her two darling foibles were dress and dancing. Magnifi- 
cence of dress was intolerable with her figure ; and though 
her dancing was still more insupportable, she never missed a 
ball at court : and the queen had so much complaisance for 
the public, as always to make her dance ; but it was impossi- 
ble to give her a part in an entertainment so important and 
splendid as this masquerade : however, she was dying with 
impatience for the orders she expected. 

It was in consequence of this impatience, of which Miss 
Hamilton was informed, that she founded the design of di- 
verting herself at the expense of this silly woman. The 
queen sent notes to those whom she appointed to be present, 
and described the manner in which they were to be dressed. 
Miss Hamilton wrote a note exactly in the same manner to 
Lady Muskerry, with directions for her to be dressed in the 
Babylonian fashion. 

She assembled her counsel ta advise about the means of 
sending it : this cabinet was composed of one of her brothers ~ 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 129 

and a sister, who were glad to divert themselves at the ex- 
pense of those who deserved it. After having consulted some 
time, they at last resolved upon a mode of conveying it into 
her own hands. Lord Muskerry was just going out, when she 
received it: he was a man of honour, rather serious, very 
severe, and a mortal enemy to ridicule. His wife's deformity 
was not so intolerable to him, as the ridiculous figure she 
made upon all occasions. He thought that he was safe in 
the present case, not believing that the queen would spoil her 
masquerade by naming Lady Muskerry as one of the dancers ; 
nevertheless, as he was acquainted with the passion his wife 
had to expose herself in public, by her dress and dancing, he 
had just been advising her very seriously to content herself 
with being a spectator of this entertainment, even though the 
queen should have the cruelty to engage her in it : he then 
took the liberty to show her what little similarity there was 
between her figure, and that of persons to whom dancing and 
mamificence in dress were allowable. His sermon concluded 
at last, by an express prohibition to solicit a place at this en- 
tertainment, which they had no thoughts of giving her ; but 
far from taking his advice in good part, she imagined that he 
was the only person who had prevented the queen from doing 
her an honour she so ardently desired ; and as soon as he was 
gone out, her design was to go and throw herself at her Ma- 
jesty's feet to demand justice. She was in this very dis- 
position when she received the billet : three times did she 
kiss it ; and without regarding her husband's injunctions, she 
immediately got into her coach in order to get information of 
the merchants who traded to the Levant, in what manner the 
ladies of quality dressed in Babylon. 

The plot laid for Miss Blague was of a different kind : she 
had such faith in her charms, and was so confident of their 

9 



130 MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

effects, that she could believe anything. Brisacier, whom she 
looked upon as desperately smitten, had wit, which he set off 
with common-place talk, and with little sonnets : he sung out 
of tune most methodically, and was continually exerting one 
or other of these happy talents : the Duke of Buckingham did 
all he could to spoil him, by the praises he bestowed both 
upon his voice and upoii his wit. 

Miss Blague, -who hardly understood a word of French, 
regulated herself upon the Duke's authority, in admiring the 
one and the other. It was remarked, that all the words 
which he sung to her were in praise of fait wofnen, and that 
always taking this to herself, she cast down her eyes in ac- 
knowledgment and consciousness. • It was upon these obser- 
vations they resolved to make a jest of her, the first oppor- 
tunity. 

While these little projects were forming, \the king, who 
always wished to oblige the, Chevalier "de Gfammont, asked 
him, if he would make olie at the masquemde, on condition 
of being Miss Haliiiltoii's partner? HeS- did'iiot pretend to 
dance sufifi-'ciently well for an' occasion like the present; yet 
he was far from refusing the offer : "' Sire," said he, " of aU the 
favours you have been pleased to show me, since my arrival, 
I feel this more sensibly than any other ; and to convince 
you of my gratitude, I promise you all the good offices in my 
power with Miss Stewart." He said this, because they had 
just given her an apartment separate from the rest of the 
maids of honour, which made the courtiers begin to -psij 
respect to her. The king was very well pleased at this 
pleasantry, and having thanked him for so necessary an 
offer : " Monsieur le Chevalier," said he, " in what style do 
you intend to dress yourself for the ball ? I leave you the 
choice of all countries." " If so," said the Chevalier, " I will 




TMvi^r'E, :ru]P]e,]rt . 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GKAMMONT. 131 

dress after the French manner, in order to disguise myself; 
for they already do me the honour to take me for an English- 
man in your city of London. Had it not been for this, I 
should have wished to have appeared as a Eoman ; but for 
fear of embroiling myself with Prince Eupert,"^ who so 
warmly espouses the interests of Alexander against Lord 
Thanet,-)- who declares himself for Caesar, I dare no longer 
think of assuming the hero : nevertheless, though I may 
dance awkwardly, yet, by observing the tune, and with a 
little alertness, I hope to come off pretty well ; besides, Miss 
Hamilton will take care that too much attention shall not be 
paid to me. As for my dress, I shall send Termes off to- 
morrow morning ; and if I do not show you at his return the 
most splendid habit you have ever seen, look upon mine as 
the most disgraced nation in your masquerade." 

Termes set out with ample instructions, on the subject of 
his journey : and his master, rec^ubling his impatience on an 
occasion like the present, before the courier could be landed, 
began to count the minutes in expectation of his return : thus 
was he employed until the very eve of the ball ; and that was 

* Grandson of James the First, whose actions during the civdl wars 
are well known. He was born 19tli December, 1619, and died at his 
house in Spring Gardens, November 22, 1682. Lord Clarendon says of 
him, that " he was rough and passionate, and loved not debate : liked 
what was proposed, as he liked the persons who proposed it ; and was 
so great an enemy to Digby and Colepepper, who were only present in 
the debates of the war with the officers, that he crossed all they pro- 
posed." — Hist07'y of the Rebellion^ vol. ii. 554. He is supposed to have 
invented the art of mezzotinto. — See Note, ^:)OSi^. 

t This nobleman, I beheve, was John Tufton, second Earl of Thanet, 
who died 6th May, 1664. Lord Orford, however, imagines him to have 
been Nicholas Tufton, the third Earl of Thanet, his eldest son, who died 
24th November, 1679. Both these noblemen suffered much for their 
loyalty. 

9—2 



132 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

the day that Miss Hamilton and her little society had fixed 
for the execution of their project. 

Martial gloves were then very much in fashion : she had 
by chance several pairs of them : she sent one to Miss Blague, 
accompanied with four yards of yellow riband, the palest 
she could find, to which she added this note : 

" You were the other day more charming than all the fair 
women in the world : you looked yesterday still more fair 
than you did the day before : if you go on, what will become 
of my heart ? But it is a long time since that has been a 
prey to your pretty little young wild hoars eyes.^ Shall 
you be at the masquerade to-morrow ? But can there be any 
charms at an entertainment, at which you are not present ? 
It does not signify : I shall know you in whatever disguise 
you may be : but I shall be better informed of my fate, by 
the present I send you : you will wear knots of this riband 
in your hair ; and these gloves will kiss the most beautiful 
hands in the universe." 

This billet, with the present, was delivered to Miss Blague, 
with the same success as the other had been conveyed to 
Lady Muskerry. Miss Hamilton had just received an account 
of it, when the latter came to pay her a visit : something 
seemed to possess her thoughts very much ; when, having 
stayed some time, her cousin desired her to walk into her cabi- 
net. As soon as they were there : " I desire your secrecy for 
what I am going to tell you," said Lady Muskerry. " Do not 
you wonder what strange creatures men are ? Do not trust 
to them, my dear cousin : my Lord Muskerry, who, before our 

* Marcassin is French for a wild boar : the eyes of this creature 
being remarkably small and lively, from thence the French say, " Des 
yeux marcassins," to signify little, though roguish eyes ; or, as we say, 
pigs' eyes. 



^ 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 133 

marriage, could have passed whole days and nights in seeing 
me dance, thinks proper now to forbid me dancing, and says 
it does not become me. This is not all : he has so often runo- 
in my ears the subject of this masquerade, that I am obliged to 
hide from him the honour the queen has done me, in inviting 
me to it. However, I am surprised I am not informed who 
is to be my partner : but if you knew what a plague it is, to 
find out, in this cursed town, in what manner the people of 
Babylon dress, you would pity me for what I have suffered 
since the time I have been appointed : besides, the cost which 
it puts me to is beyond all imagination." 

Here it was that Miss Hamilton's inclination to laugh, 
which had increased in proportion as she endeavoured to 
suppress it, at length overcame her, and broke out in an im- 
moderate fit : Lady Muskerry took it in good humour, not 
doubting but it was the fantastical conduct of her husband 
that she was laughing at. Miss Hamilton told her that all 
husbands were much, the same, and that one ought not to be 
concerned at their whims ; that she did not know who was to 
be her partner at the masquerade ; but that, as she was named, 
the gentleman named with her would certainly not fail to 
attend her ; although she could not comprehend why he had 
not yet declared himself, unless he likewise had solne fantas- 
tical spouse, who had forbid him to dance. 

This conversation being finished. Lady Muskerry went away 
in great haste, to endeavour to learn some news of her partner. 
Those who were accomplices in the plot were laughing very 
heartily at this visit, when Lord Muskerry paid them one in 
his turn, and taking Miss Hamilton aside : " Do you know," 
said he, "whether there is to be any ball in the city to- 
morrow ?" " No," said she ; " but why do you ask ?" " Be- 
cause," said he, " I am informed that my wife is making great 



134 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

preparations of dress. I know very well she is not to be at 
the masquerade : that I have taken care of ; but as the devH 
is in her for dancing, I am very much afraid that she will be 
affording some fresh subject for ridicule, notwithstanding all 
my precautions : however, if it was amongst the citizens, at 
some private party, I should not much mind it." 

They satisfied him as well as they could, and having dis- 
missed him, under pretence of a thousand things they had to 
prepare for the next day. Miss Hamilton thought herself at 
liberty for that morning, when in came Miss Price, one of the 
maids of honour to the Duchess.* This was just what she 
was wishing for : Tliis lady and Miss Blague Had been at va- 
riance some time, on account of Duncan,-f- whom Miss Price had 
drawn away from the other ; and hatred still subsisted between 
these two divinities. 

Though the maids of honour were not nominated for the 
masquerade, yet they were to assist at it ; and, consequently, 
were to neglect nothing to set themselves off to advantage. 
Miss Hamilton had still another pair of gloves of the same 
sort as those she had sent to Miss Blague, which she made a 
present of to her rival, with a few knots of the same riband, 
which appeared to have been made on purpose for her, brown 
as she was. Miss Price returned her a thousand thanks, and 

* Our author's memory here fails him : Miss Price was maid of honour 
to the queeu. Mr. Granger says, "there was a Lady Price, a fine 
woman, who was daughter of Sir Edmond "Warcup, concerning whom, 
see Wood^s Fasti Oxon. ii., 184. Her father had the vanity to think 
that Charles II. would marry her, though he had then a queen. There 
were letters of his wherein he mentioned, that " his daughter was one 
night and t'other with the king, and very graciously received by 
him." — History of England, vol. iv., p. 338. 

f I believe this name should be written Dongan. Lord Orford says, 
of this house were the ancient Earls of Limerick. 




Mi?>:^ ira^iCKo 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 135 

promised to do herself the honour of wearing them at the ball. 
" You will oblige me if you do," said Miss Hamilton, " but if 
you mention that such a trifle as this comes from me, I shall 
never forgive you ; but," continued she, "do not go and rob 
poor Miss Blague of the Marquis Brisacier, as you already 
have of Duncan : I know very well that it is wholly in your 
power : you have wit : you speak French : and were he once 
to converse with you ever so little the other could have no pre- 
tensions to him." This was enough : Miss Blague was only 
ridiculous and coquettish : Miss Price was ridiculous, coquet- 
tish, and something else besides. 

The day being come, the court, more splendid than ever, 
exhibited all its magnificence at this masquerade. The com- 
pany were all met except the Chevalier de Grammont : every 
body was astonished that he should be one of the last at such 
a time, as liis readiness was so remarkable on every occasion ; 
but they were still more surprised to see him at length appear 
in an ordinary court-dress, which he had worn before. The 
thing was preposterous on such an occasion, and very extra- 
ordinary with respect to him : in vain had he the finest point- 
lace, with the largest and best powdered peruke imaginable : 
his dress, magnificent enough for any other purpose, was not 
at all proper for this entertainment. 

The king immediately took notice of it : " Chevalier," said 
he, " Termes is not arrived then ?" " Pardon me, sire," said 
he, " God be thanked !" " Why God be thanked V said the 
king ; " has anything happened to him on the road ?" " Sire," 
said the Chevalier de Grammont, " this is the history of my 
dress, and of Termes, my messenger." At these words the 
ball, ready to begin, was suspended : the dancers making a 
circle around the Chevalier de Grammont, he continued his 
story in the following manner : 



136 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GKAMMONT. 

" It is now two days since this fellow ought to have been 
here, according to my orders and his protestations : you may 
judge of my impatience all this day, when I found he did not 
come : at last, after I had heartily cursed him, about an hour 
age he arrived, splashed all over from head to foot, booted up 
to the waist, and looking as if he had been excommunicated : 
'Very well, Mr. Scoundrel,' said I, 'this is just like you, you 
must be waited for to the very last minute, and it is a miracle 
that you are arrived at all/ ' Yes, faith/ said he, 'it is a 
miracle. You are always grumbling : I had the finest suit in 
the world made for you, wliich the Duke de Guise himself was 
at the trouble of ordering.' ' Give it me then, scoundrel,' said 
I. 'Sir,' said he, 'if I did not employ a dozen embroiderers 
upon it, who did nothing but work day and night, I am a 
rascal: I never left them one moment/ 'And where is it 
traitor ?' said I : 'do not stand here prating, while I should be 
dressing.' 'I had,' continued he, ' packed it up, made it tight, 
and folded it in such a manner, that all the rain in the world 
could never have been able to reach it ; and I rid post, day 
and night, knowing your impatience, and that you. were not to 
be trifled with.' — ' But where is it ?' said I. ' Lost, sir,' said 
he, clasping his hands. ' How ! lost,' said I, in surprise. ' Yes, 
lost, perished, swallowed up : what can I say more V ' What ! 
was the packet-boat cast away then X said I. ' Oh ! indeed, 
sir, a great deal worse, as you shall see,' answered he : 'I was 
within half a league of Calais yesterday morning, and I was 
resolved to go by the sea-side, to make greater haste ; but, in- 
deed, they say very true, that nothing is like the highway ; 
for I got into a quicksand, where I sunk up to the chin.' 'A 
quicksand,' said I, ' near Calais ?' ' Yes, sir,' said he, ' and 
such a quicksand that, the devil take me, if they saw anything 
but the top of my head when they pulled me out : as for my 




^J),ctu)l,U 



1^ U (T. "l-I iF_. S5 S ^T;) "1^ :ry ip^ ^.y- C A S ■ni.-'3:.lR „ 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 13 7 

horse, fifteen men could scarce get him out ; but the portman- 
teau, where I had unfortunately put your clothes, could never 
be found : it must be at least a league under ground.' 

" This, sire," continued the Chevalier de Grammont, " is the 
adventure, and the relation which this honest gentleman has 
given me of it. I should certainly have killed him, but I was 
afraid of making Miss Hamilton wait, and I was desirous of, 
giving your Majesty immediate advice of the quicksand, that 
your couriers may take care to avoid it." 

The King was ready to split his sides with laughing, when 
the Chevalier de Grammont, resuming the discourse, " apro- 
pos, sire," said he, '' I had forgot to tell you, that, to increase 
my ill-humour, I was stopped, as I was getting out of my 
chair, by the devil of a phantom in masquerade, who would 
by all means persuade me that the queen had commanded me 
to dance with her ; and as I excused myseK with the least 
rudeness possible, she charged me to find out who was to be 
her partner, and desired me to send him to her immediately * 
so that your Majesty will do well to give orders about it ; for 
she has placed herself in ambush in a coach, to seize upon all 
those who pass through Whitehall. However, I must tell you, 
that it is worth while to see her dress ; for she must have at 
least sixty eUs of gauze and silver tissue about her, not to 
mention a sort of a pyramid upon her head, adorned with a 
hundred thousand baubles." 

This last account surprised all the assembly, except those 
who had a share in the plot. The queen assured them, that 
all she had appointed for the ball were present ; and the king, 
having paused some minutes : " I bet," said he, " that it is the 
Duchess of Newcastle.""^ "And I," said Lord Muskerry, 

* This fantastic lady, as Lord Orford properly calls her, was the 
youngest daughter of Sir Charles Lucas, and had been one of the maids 



138 MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

coming up to Miss Hamilton, " will bet it is another fool ; for 
I am very miicli mistaken if it is not my wife." 

The king was for sending to know who it was, and to bring 
her in : Lord Mnskerry offered himself for that service, for the 
reason already mentioned ; and it was very well he did so. 
Miss Hamilton was not sorry for this, knowing very well that 
he was not mistaken in his conjecture ; the jest would have 
gone much farther than she intended, if the Princess of Baby- 
lon had appeared in all her glory. 

The ball was not very well executed, if one may be allowed 
the expression, so long as they danced only slow dances ; and 
yet there were as good dancers, and as beautiful women in this 
assembly, as were to be found in the whole world : but as their 
number was not great, they left the French, and went to coun- 
try dances. When they had danced some time, the king 
thought fit to introduce his auxiliaries, to give the others a 
little respite ; the queen's and the duchess's maids of honour 
were therefore called in to dance with the gentlemen. 

Then it was that they were at leisure to take notice of Miss 
Blague, and they found that the billet they had conveyed to 
her on the part of Brisacier had its effect : she was more yellow 
than saffron: her hair was stuffed with the citron-coloured 
riband, which she had put there out of complaisance ; and, to 

of honour to Charles the First's queen, whom she attended when forced 
to leave England. At Paris she married the Duke of Newcastle, and 
continued in exile with him until the restoration. After her return to 
England, she lived entirely devoted to letters, and published man}'- 
volumes of plays, poems, letters, &c. She died in 1673, and was buried 
in Westminster Abbey. Lord Orford says, there is a whole length of 
this duchess at Welbeck, in a theatrical dress, which, tradition says, she 
generally wore. She had always a maid of honour in waiting during 
the night, who was often called up to register the duchess's conceptions. 
These were all of a literary kind ; for her gTace left no children. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 139 

inform Brisacier of his fate, she raised often to her head her 
victorious hands, adorned with the gloves we have before men- 
tioned : but, if they were surprised to see her in a head-dress 
that made her look more wan than ever, she was very differ- 
ently surprised to see Miss Price partake with her in every 
particular of Brisacier's present : her surprise soon turned to 
jealousy ; for her rival had not failed to join in conversation 
with him, on account of what had been insinuated to her the 
evening before ; nor did Brisacier fail to return her first ad- 
vances, without paying the least attention to the fair Blague, 
nor to the signs which she was tormenting herself to make 
him, to inform him of liis happy destiny. 

Miss Price was short and thick, and consequently no dancer, 
the Duke of Buckingham, who brought Brisacier forward as 
•often as he could, came to desire him, on the part of the king, 
to dance with Miss Blague, without knowing what was then 
passing in this nymph's heart : Brisacier excused himself, on 
account of the contempt that he had for country dances : 
Miss Blague thought that it was herself that he despised ; and, 
seeing that he was engaged in conversation with her mortal 
^nemy, she began to dance, without knowing what she was 
doing. Though her indignation and jealousy were sufficiently 
remarkable to divert the court, none but Miss Hamilton and 
her accomplices, understood the joke perfectly : their pleasure 
was quite complete ; for Lord Muskerry returned, still more 
confounded at the vision, of which the Chevalier de Grammont 
had given the description. He acquainted Miss Hamilton, 
that it was Lady Muskerry herself, a thousand times more 
ridiculous than she had ever been before, and that he had had 
an immense trouble to get her home, and place a sentry at her 
•chamber door. 

The reader may think, perhaps, that we have dwelt too long 



140 MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

on these trifling incidents; perhaps he may be right. We 
will therefore pass to others. 

Everything favoured the Chevalier de Grammont in the 
new passion which he entertained : he was not, however, 
without rivals ; but, what is a great deal more extraordinary, he 
was without uneasiness : he was acquainted with their under- 
standings, and no stranger to Miss Hamilton's way of thinking. 

Among her lovers, the most considerable, though the least 
professedly so, was the Duke of York : it was in vain for him 
to conceal it, the court was too well acquainted with his cha- 
racter to doubt of his inclinations for her. He did not think 
it proper to declare such sentiments as were not fit for Miss 
Hamilton to hear ; but he talked to her as much as he could, 
and ogled her mth great assiduity. As hunting was his 
favourite diversion, that sport employed him one part of the 
day, and he came home generally much fatigued ; but Miss 
Hamilton's presence revived him, when he found her either 
with the queen or the duchess. There it was that, not daring 
to tell her of what lay heavy on his heart, he entertained 
her with what he had in his head : telling her miracles of the 
cunning of foxes and the mettle of horses ; giving her accounts 
of broken legs and arms, dislocated shoulders, and other 
curious and entertaining adventures ; after which, his eyes 
told her the rest, till such time as sleep interrupted their con- 
versation ; for these tender interpreters could not help some- 
times composing themselves in the midst of their ogling. 

The duchess was not at all alarmed at a passion which her 
rival was far from thinking sincere, and with which she used 
to divert herself, as far as respect would admit her ; on the 
contrary, as her highness had an affection and esteem for Miss 
Hamilton, she never treated her more graciously than on the 
present occasion. 




1, OKl^ '^^■^11. 1,1 AIM Kl'^BSlEl. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 141 

The two Eussells, uncle^ and nepliew,"[- were two other of 
the Chevalier de Grammont's rivals : the uncle was full 
seventy, and had distinguished liimself by his courage and 
fidelity in the civil wars. His passions and intentions, with 
regard to Miss Hamilton, appeared both at once ; but his 
magnificence only appeared by halves in those gallantries 
which love inspires. It was not long since the fashion of high 
crowned hats had been left off, in order to fall into the other 
extreme. Old Eussell, amazed at so terrible a change, resolved 
to keep a medium, which made him remarkable : he was still 
more so, by his constancy for cut doublets, which he supported 
^ long time after they had been universally suppressed ; but, 
what was more surprising than all, was a certain mixture of 
avarice and liberality, constantly at war with each other, ever 
since he had entered the list with love. 

His nephew was only of a younger brother's family, but 
was considered as his uncle's heir ; and though he was under 
the necessity of attending to his uncle for an establishment, 
and still more so of humouring him, in order to get his estate, 
he could not avoid his fate. Mrs. Middleton showed him a 
sufficient degree of preference ; but her favours could not 
secure him from the charms of Miss Hamilton : his person 
would have had nothing disagreeable in it, if he had but left 
it to nature ; but he was formal in all his actions, and silent 
even to stupidity ; and yet rather more tiresome when he did 
speak. 

The Chevalier de Grammont, very much at his ease in all 

* Eussell, third son of Francis, the fourth Earl of Bedford, and 
■colonel of the first regiment of foot guards. He died unmarried, in 
.November, 1681. 

t William, eldest son of Edward Eussell, younger brother of the above 
John Eussel. He was standard-bearer to Charles II., and died un- 
married, 1674. He was elder brother to Eussell, Earl of Orford. 



142" MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

these competitions, engaged himself more and more in his 
passion, without forming other designs, or conceiving other 
hopes, than to render himself agreeable. Though his passion 
was openly declared, no person at court regarded it otherwise 
than as a habit of gallantry, which goes no farther than to do 
justice to merit. 

His monitor, Saint Evremond, was quite of a different 
opinion; and finding, that, besides an immense increase of 
magnificence and assiduity, he regretted those hours which 
he bestowed on play; that he no longer sought after those 
long and agreeable conversations they used to have together ; 
and that this new attachment everywhere robbed him of 
himself : 

" Monsieur le Chevalier," said he, " methinks that for some 
time you have left the town beauties and their lovers in per- 
fect repose : Mrs. Middleton makes fresh conquests with im- 
punity, and wears your presents, under your nose, without 
your taking the smallest notice. Poor Miss Warmestre ha& 
been very quietly brought to bed in the midst of the court, 
without your having even said a word about it. I foresaw it 
plain enough. Monsieur le Chevalier, you have got acquainted 
with Miss Hamilton, and, what has never before happened to- 
you, you are really in love ; but let us consider a little what 
may be the consequence. In the first place, then, I believe, 
you have not the least intention of seducing her : such is her 
birth and merit, that if you were in possession of the estate 
and title of your family, it might be excusable in you to offer 
yourself upon honourable terms, however ridiculous marriage 
may be in general ; for, if you only wish for wit, prudence, and 
the treasures of beauty, you could not pay your addresses to 
a more proper person : but for you, who possess only a very 
moderate share of those of fortune, you cannot pay your 
addresses more improperly. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 145^ 

"For your brother Toulongeon, whose disposition I am 
acquainted with, will not have the complaisance to die, to 
favour your pretensions : but suppose you had a competent 
fortune for you both — and that is supposing a good deal — are 
you acquainted with the deKcacy, not to say capriciousness, 
of this fair one about such an engagement ? Do you know 
that she has had the choice of the best matches in England ? 
The Duke of Eichmond paid his addresses to her first ; but 
though he was in love with her, still he was mercenary : how- 
ever, the king, observing that want of fortune was the only 
impediment to the match, took that article upon himself, out 
of regard to the Duke of Ormond, to the merit and birth of 
Miss Hamilton, and to her father's services ; but, resenting 
that a man, who pretended to be in love, should bargain like 
a merchant, and likewise reflecting upon his character in the 
world, she did not think that being Duchess of Eichmond was 
a sufficient recompense for the danger that was to be feared 
from a brute and a debauchee. 

" Has not little Jermyn, notwithstanding his uncle's great 
estate, and his own brilliant reputation, failed in his suit to 
her ? And has she ever so much as vouchsafed to look at 
Henry Howard,* who is upon the point of being the first duke 
in England, and who is already in actual possession of all the 
estates of the house of ]N"orfolk ? I confess that he is a clown, 
but what other lady in all England would not have dispensed 
with his stupidity and his disagreeable person, to be the first 
duchess in the kingdom, with twenty-five thousand a year? 

* This was Henry Howard, brother to Thomas, Earl of Arundel, who 
by a special act of parliament, in 1664, was restored to the honours of 
the family, forfeited by the attainder of his ancestor, in the time of 
Queen Elizabeth. On the death of his brother, in 1667, he became 
Duke of Norfolk, and died January 11, 1683-4, at his house in Arundel 
Street, aged 55. 



144 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

" To conclude, Lord Falmoutli has told me himself, that he 
has always looked upon her as the only acquisition wanting 
to complete his happiness : but, that even at the height of the 
splendour of his fortune, he never had had the assurance to 
open his sentiments to her ; that he either felt in himself too 
much weakness, or too much pride, to be satisfied with obtain- 
ing her solely by the persuasion of her relations ; and that, 
though the first refusals of the fair on such occasions are not 
much minded, he knew with what an air she had received the 
addresses of those whose persons she did not like. After this, 
Monsieur le Chevalier, consider what method you intend to 
pursue : for, if you are in love, the passion will still increase, 
and the greater the attachment, the less capable will you be 
of making those serious reflections that are now in your 
power." 

" My poor philosopher," answered the Chevalier de Gram- 
mont, " you understand Latin very well, you can make good 
verses, you understand the course, and are acquainted with 
the nature of the stars in the firmament ; but, as for the lu- 
minaries of the terrestrial globe, you are utterly unacquainted 
with them : you have told me nothing about Miss Hamilton, 
but what the king told me three days ago. That she has 
refused the savages you have mentioned is all in her favour : 
if she had admitted their addresses, I would have had nothing 
to say to her, though I love her to distraction. Attend now 
to what I am going to say : I am resolved to marry her, and I 
will have my tutor Saint Ewemond himseK to be the first 
man to commend me for it. As for an establishment, I shall 
make my peace with the king, and will solicit him to make 
her one of the ladies of the bed-chamber to the queen : this he 
will grant me. Toulongeon will die, without my assistance,* 
' * Count de Toulongeon was elder brother to Count Grammont, who, 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 145 

^nd notwithstanding all his care ; and Miss Hamilton will have 
Semeat,"^ with the Chevalier de Grammont, as an indemni- 
fication for the JSTorfolks and Eichmonds. Now, have yon any- 
thing to advance against this project ? For I will bet you 
.an hundred louis, that everything will happen as I have fore- 
told it." 

At this time the king's attachment to Miss Stewart was so 
public, that every person perceived, that if she was but pos- 
sessed of art, she might become as absolute a mistress over his 
conduct as she was over his heart. This was a fine opportu- 
nity for those who had experience and ambition. The Duke 
of Buckingham formed the design of governing her, in order 
to ingratiate himself v/ith the king : God knows what a go- 
vernor he would have been, and what a head he was possessed 
of, to guide another ; however, he was the properest man in 
the world to insinuate himseK with Miss Stewart : she was 
childish in her behaviour, and laughed at everything, and her 
taste for frivolous amusements, though unaffected, was only 
allowable in a girl about twelve or thirteen years old. A 
child, however, she was, in every other respect, except playing 
with a doll : blind man's buff was her most favourite amuse- 
ment: she was building castles of cards, while the deepest 
play was going on in her apartments, where you saw her sur- 
rounded by eager courtiers, who handed her the cards, or 
young architects, who endeavoured to imitate her. 

She had, however, a passion for music, and had some taste 
for singing. The Duke of Buckingham, who built the finest 
towers of cards imaginable, had an agreeable voice : she had 

by his death, in 1679, became, according to St. Evremond, on that 
event, one of the richest noblemen at court,— See St Evremond' s Works, 
vol. ii., p. 327. 

* A country seat belonging to the family of the Grammonts. 

10 



146 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

no aversion to scandal : and the duke was both the father and 
the mother of scandal, he made songs, and invented old women's 
stories, with which she was delighted ; but his particular talent 
consisted in turning into ridicule whatever was ridiculous in 
other people, and in taking them off, even in their presence, 
without their perceiving it : in short, he knew how to act all 
parts mth so much grace and pleasantry, that it was difficult 
to do without him, when he had a mind to make himself 
agreeable ; and he made himself so necessary to Miss Stewart's 
amusement, that she sent all over the town to seek for him, 
when he did not attend the king to her apartments. 

He was extremely handsome,* and still thought himself 

* George Villiers, the second Duke of Buckingham, was born 30th 
January, 1627. Lord Orford observes, " When this extraordinary man, 
with the figure and genius of Alcibiades, could equally charm the 
presbyterian Fairfax and the dissolute Charles ; when he alike ridi- 
culed that witty king and his solemn chancellor : when he plotted the 
ruin of his country with a cabal of bad ministers, or, equally unprin- 
cipled, supported its cause with bad patriots, — one laments that such 
parts should have been devoid of every virtue : but when Alcibiades 
turns chemist ; when he is a real bubble and a visionary miser ; when 
ambition is but a frolic ; when the worst designs are for the foolishest 
ends, — contempt extinguishes all reflection on his character." 

" The portrait of this duke has been drawn by four masterly hands. 
Burnet has hewn it out with his rough chisel ; Coimt Hamilton touched 
it with that slight delicacy that finishes whUe it seems but to sketch ; 
Dryden caught the living likeness ; Pope completed the historical 
resemblance." — Royal Authors, vol. ii., p. 78. 

Of these four portraits, the second is in the text ; the other three will 
complete the character of this extraordinary nobleman. 

Bishop Burnet says, he " was a man of noble presence. He had a 
gTeat hveUness of wit, and a pecuhar faculty of turning all things into 
ridicule, with bold figures, and natural descriptions. He had no sort 
of literature, only he was drawn into chemistry ; and for some years 
he thought he was very near the finding the philosopher's stone, which 
had the effect that attends on aU such men as he was, when they 
are drawn in, to lay out for it. He had no principles of religion. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 147 

much more so than he really was : although he had a great deal 
of discernment, yet his vanity made him mistake some civilities 



virtue, or friendship : — pleasure, frolic, or extravagant diversion was 
all that he laid to heart. He was true to nothing ; for he was not true 
to himself. He had no steadiness nor conduct : he could keep no 
secret, nor execute any design without spoiling it. He could never fix 
his thoughts, nor govern his estate, though then the greatest in England. 
He was bred about the king, and for many years he had a great ascend- 
ency over him ; but he spake of him to aU persons with that contempt^ 
that at last he drew a lasting disgrace upon himself. And he at length 
ruined both body and mind, fortune and reputation equally. The mad- 
ness of vice appeared in his person in very eminent instances ; since at 
last he became contemptible and poor, sickly, and sunk in his parts, as 
well as in all other respects ; so that his conversation was as much 
avoided as ever it had been courted." — History of His Own Times,. 
vol. i., p. 137. 

Dryden's character of him is in these limes : 

" In the first rank of these did Zimri stand ; 

A man so various, that he seem'd to be 

Not one, but all mankind's epitome : 

Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong ; 

Was everything by starts, and nothing long. 

But, in the course of one revolving moon, 

Was chemist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon ; 

Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking, 

Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking. 

Blest madman, who could every hour employ 

With something new to wish or to enjoy ! 

Railing and praising were his usual themes. 

And both, to show his judgment, in extremes; 

So over violent, or over civil. 

That every man with him was god or devil. 

In squandering wealth was his peculiar art ; 

Nothing went unrewarded but desert. 

Beggar'd by fools, whom still he found too late ; 

He had his jest, and they had his estate : 

He laugh'd himself from court, then sought relief 

By forming parties, but could ne'er be chief ; 

10—2 



b 



148 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

as intended for his person, wliicli were only bestowed on his 
wit and drollery: in short, being seduced by too good an 

For, spite of him, the weight of business fell 
On Absalom and wise Ahitophel : 
Thus wicked but in will, of means bereft. 
He left not faction, but of that was left." 

Absalom and Ahitophel. 
Pope describes the last scene of this nobleman's life in these lines : 
" In the worst inn's worst room, with mat half hung, 
The floors of plaster, and the walls of dung, 
On once a flock -bed, but repair'd with straw. 
With tape-tied curtains, never meant to draw ; 
The George and Garter dangling from that bed, 
Where tawdry yellow strove with dirty red, 
Great Villiers lies : — alas ! how chang'd from him, 
That life of pleasure, and that soul of whim ! 
Gallant and gay, in Clieveden's proud alcove, 
The bower of wanton Shrewsbury and love ; 
Or, just as gay, at council, in a ring 
Of mimic'd statesmen, and their merry king. 
No wit, to flatter, left of all his store ! 
No fool to laugh at, which he valued more. 
There, victor of his health, of fortune, friends, 
And fame, this lord of useless thousands ends." 

Moral Essays, Epist. iii., 1. 299. 
He died 16th April, 1688, at the house of a tenant, at Kirby Moor 
Side, near Helmsly, in Yorkshire, aged 61 years, and was buried in 
Westminster Abbey. 

Though this note is already long, the reader will hardly complain at 
an extension of it, by the addition of one more character of this licen- 
tious nobleman, written by the able pen of the author of Hudibras. 
" The Duke of Bucks is one that has studied the whole body of vice. 
His parts are disproportionate to the whole, and, like a monster, he has 
more of some, and less of others, than he should have. He has pulled 
down all that nature raised in him, and built himself up again after a 
model of his own. He has dammed up all those lights that nature 
made into the noblest prospects of the world, and opened other little 
blind loop-holes backward, by turning day into night, and night into 
day. His appetite to his pleasures is diseased and crazy, like the pica 
in a woman, that longs to eat that which was never made for food, or 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 149 

opinion of his own merit, lie forgot his first project and his 
Portuguese mistress, in order to pursue a fancy in which he 
mistook himself ; for he no sooner began to act a serious part 
with Miss Stewart, than he met with so severe a repulse that 
he abandoned, at once, all his designs upon her : however, the 
familiarity she had procured him with the king, opened the 
way to those favours to which he was afterwards advanced. 

a girl in the green sickness, that eats chalk and mortar. Perpetual 
surfeits of pleasure have filled his mind with bad and vicious humours, 
(as well as his body with a nursery of diseases,) which makes him affect 
new and extravagant ways, as being sick and tired with the old. Con- 
tinual wine, women, and music, put false value upon things, which, by 
custom, become habitual, and debauch his understanding so, that he retains 
no right notion nor sense of things. And as the same dose of the same 
physic has no operation on those that are much used to it, so his plea- 
sures require larger proportion of excess and variety, to render him 
sensible of them. He rises, eats, and goes to bed by the Julian account, 
long after all others that go by the new style, and keeps the same hours 
with owls and the antipodes. He is a great observer of the Tartar 
customs, and never eats till the great cham, having dined, makes pro- 
clamation that all the world may go to dinner. He does not dwell in 
his house, but haunts it like an evil spirit, that walks all night, to dis- 
turb the family, and never appears by day. He lives perpetually be- 
nighted, runs out of his life, and loses his time as men do their ways in 
the dark : and as blind men are led by their dogs, so is he governed by 
some mean servant or other, that relates to his pleasures. He is as in- 
constant as the moon which he lives under ; and although he does 
nothing but advise with his pillow all day, he is as great a stranger to 
himself as he is to the rest of the world. His mind entertains all things 
very freely that come and go, but, like guests and strangers, they are 
not welcome if they stay long. This lays him open to all cheats, quacks, 
and impostors, who apply to every particular humour while it lasts, 
and afterwards vanish. Thus, with St. Paul, though in a different 
sense, he dies daily, and only lives in the night. He deforms nature, 
while he intends to adorn her, like Indians that hang jewels in their 
lips and noses. His ears are perpetually drilled with a fiddlestick. He 
endures pleasures with less patience than other men do their pains." — 
jButler's Fostlmmous Works, vol. ii., p. 72. 



150 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 

Lord Arlington* took up the project which the Duke of 
Buckingham had abandoned, and endeavoured to gain posses- 
sion of the mind of the mistress, in order to govern the master. 
A man of greater merit and higher birth than himself might, 
however, have been satisfied with the fortune he had already 
acquired. His first negotiations were during the treaty of the 
Pyrenees : and though he was unsuccessful in his proceedings 
for his employer, yet he did not altogether lose his time ; for 
he perfectly acquired, in his exterior, the serious air and j)ro- 
found gravity of the Spaniards, and imitated pretty well their 
tardiness in business : he had a scar across his nose, which 
was covered by a long patch, or rather by a small plaister, in 
form of a lozenge. 

Scars in the face commonly give a man a certain fierce and 

* Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington, principal secretary of state, and 
lord-chamberlain to King Charles II : a nobleman whose practices, 
during- that reign, have not left his character free from reproach. Mr. 
Macpherson says of him, that he "supplied the place of extensive 
talents by an artful management of such as he possessed. Accom- 
modating in his principles, and easy in his address, he pleased when 
he was known to deceive ; and his manner acquired to him a kind of 
influence where he commanded no respect. He was little calculated 
for bold measures, on account of his natural timidity ; and that defect 
created an opinion of his moderation, that was ascribed to virtue. His 
facility to adopt new measures was forgotten in his readiness to acknow- 
ledge the errors of the old. The deficiency of his integrity was for- 
given in the decency of his dishonesty. Too weak not to be super- 
stitious, yet possessing too much sense to own his adherence to the church 
of Rome, he lived a protestant in his outward profession, but he died 
a catholic. Timidity was the chief characteristic of his mind ; and 
that being known, he was even commanded by cowards. He was the 
man of the least genius of the party : but he had most experience in 
that slow and constant current of business, which, perhaps, suits affairs 
of state better than the violent exertions of men of great parts." — 
Original Papers, vol. i. Lord Arlington died July 28, 1685. See a 
character of him in Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham's Works. 




K A 7\ 1-. ( ii' Al?^ L 11^ G T €) It 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 151 

martial air, which sets him off to advantage ; but it was quite 
the contrary with him, and this remarkable plaister so well 
suited his mysterious looks, that it seemed an addition to his 
gravity and self-sufficiency. 

Arlington, under the mask of this compound countenance 
where great earnestness passed for business, and impenetrable 
stupidity for secrecy, had given himseK the character of a great 
politician ; and no one having leisure to examine him, he was 
taken at his word, and had been made minister and secretary 
of state, upon the credit of his own importance. 

His ambition soaring still above these high stations, after 
having provided himself with a great number of fine maxims, 
and some historical anecdotes, he obtained an audience of Miss 
Stewart, in order to display them ; at the same time offering 
her his most humble services, and best advice, to assist her in 
conducting herself in the situation to which it had pleased God 
and her virtue to raise her. But he was only in the preface 
of his speech, when she recollected that he was at the head of 
those whom the Duke of Buckingham used to mimic ; and as 
his presence and his language exactly revived the ridiculous 
ideas that had been given her of him, she could not forbear 
bursting out into a fit of laughter in his face, so much the 
more violent as she had for a long time struggled to sup- 
press it. 

The minister was enraged : his pride became his post, and 
his punctilious behaviour merited all the ridicule which could 
be attached to it : he quitted her abruptly, with all the fine 
advice he had prepared for her, and was almost tempted to 
carry it to Lady Castlemaine, and to unite himself with her 
interests ; or immediately to quit the court party, and declaim 
freely in parliament against the grievances of the state, and 
particularly to propose an act to forbid the keeping of mis- 



152 MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

tresses ; but liis prudence conquered Ms resentments ; and 
thinking only how to enjoy with pleasure the blessings of 
fortune, he sent to Holland for a wife,"^ in order to complete 
his felicity. 

Hamilton was, of all the courtiers, the best qualified to 
succeed in an enterprise, in which the Duke of Buckingham 
and Lord Arlington had miscarried: he was thinking upon 
it; but his natural coquetry traversed his intentions, and 
made him neglect the most advantageous prospects in the 
world, in order unnecessarily to attend to the advances and 
allurements thrown out to him by the Countess of Chester- 
field. This was one of the most agreeable women in the 
world : she had a most exquisite shape, though she was not 
very tall; her complexion was extremely fair, with all the 
expressive charms of a brunette; she had large blue eyes, 
very tempting and alluring ; her manners were engaging ; her 
wit lively and amusing ; but her heart, ever open to tender 
sentiments, was neither scrupulous in point of constancy, nor 
nice in point of sincerity. She was daughter to the Duke of 
Ormond,-)- and Hamilton, being her cousin-german, they might 
be as much as they pleased in each other's company without 
being particular ; but as soon as her eyes gave him some en- 
couragement, he entertained no other thoughts than how ta 

* This lady was Isabella, daughter to Lewis de Nassau, Lord 
Beverwaert, son to Maurice, Prince of Orange, and Count Nassau. 
By her, Lord Arlington had an [only daughter, named Isabella, who 
married, August 1, 1672, Henry, Earl of Euston, son to King Charles 
11, , by Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland, created afterwards Duke of 
Grafton ; and, after his death, to Sir Thomas Hanmer, Bart. She 
assisted at the coronation of King George I., as Countess of Arlington^ 
in her own right, and died February 7, 1722-3. 

t And second wife of the Earl of Chesterfield. She survived the 
adventures here related a very short time, dying in July, 1665, at the 
age of 25 years. 




ij) Tum? :r s s ©f ^fibiT. .?^ ^ I'.miE' t_i?, _l.d 




MEMOIRS OF 

please her, without consideriiig her fifeKleness, or the obstacles 
he had to encounter. His intention, which we mentioned 
before, of establishing himself in the confidence of Miss 
Stewart, no longer occupied his thoughtsr^sltei^^iSGW was of 
opinion that she was capable of being the mistress of her own 
conduct : she had done all that was necessary to inflame the 
king's passions, without exposing her virtue by granting the 
last favours; but the eagerness of a passionate lover, blessed 
with favourable op^Dortunities, is difficult to withstand, and 
still more difficult to vanquish; and Miss Stewart's virtue 
was almost exhausted, when the queen was attacked with a 
violent fever, which soon reduced her to extreme danger. 

Then it was that Miss Stewart was greatly pleased with 
herself for the resistance she had made, though she had paid 
dearly for it: a thousand flattering hopes of greatness and 
glory filled her heart, and the additional respect that was 
universally paid her, contributed not a little to increase them. 
The queen was given over by her physicians :* the few Por- 
tuguese women that had not been sent back to their own 
country filled the court with doleful cries; and the good 
nature of the king was much affected with the situation in 
which he saw a princess, whom, though he did not love her, 
yet he greatly esteemed. She loved him tenderly, and think- 
ing that it was the last time she should ever speak to him, 

* This happened in October, 1663. Lord Arlington, in a letter to 
the Duke of Ormond, dated the 17th of that month, says, " the con- 
dition of the queen is much worse, and the physicians give us but little 
hopes of her recovery ; by the next you wiU hear she is either in a 
fair way to it, or dead : to-morrow is a very critical day with her : 
God's will be done. The king coming to see her this morning, she 
told him she willingly left all the world but him ; which hath very 
much afflicted his majesty, and all the court with him." — Brown's 
Miscellanea Atilica, 1702, p. 306. 



164 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

she told him, that the concern he showed for her death, was 
enough to make her quit life with regret ; but that not pos- 
sessing charms sufficient to merit his tenderness, she had at 
least the consolation in dying to give place to a consort who 
might be more worthy of it, and to whom heaven, perhaps, 
might grant a blessing that had been refused to her. At 
these words, she bathed his hands with some tears, which he 
thought would be her last : he mingled his own with hers ; 
and without supposing she would take him at his word, he 
conjured her to live for his sake. She had never yet dis- 
obeyed him ; and, however dangerous sudden impulses may 
be, when one is between life and death, this transport of joy, 
which might have proved fatal to her, saved her life, and the 
king's wonderful tenderness had an effect, for which every 
person did not thank heaven in the same manner. 

Jermyn had now for some time been recovered of his 
wounds : however. Lady Castlemaine, finding his health in as 
deplorable a condition as ever, resolved to regain the king's 
heart, but in vain: for notwithstanding the softness of her 
tears, and the violence of her passions. Miss Stewart wholly 
possessed it. During this period the court was variously en- 
tertained: sometimes there were promenades, and at others 
the court beauties sallied out on horseback, and to make 
attacks with their charms and graces, sometimes successfully, 
sometimes otherwise, but always to .the best of their abilities : 
at other seasons there were such shows on the river, as the 
city of London alone can afford. 

The Thames washes the sides of a large though not a mag- 
nificent palace of the kings of Great Britain :* from the stairs 
of this palace the court used to take water, in the summer 

* This was Whitehall, which was burnt down, except the banquet- 
ing-house, 4th January, 1698. — See Harleian Miscellany, vol. vi. p. 367. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 155 

evenings, when the heat and dust prevented their walking in 
the park : an infinite number of open boats, filled with the 
■court and city beauties, attended the barges, in wliich were 
the Eoyal Family : collations, music, and fireworks, completed 
the scene. The Chevalier de Grammont always made one of 
the company, and it was very seldom that he did not add 
something of his own invention, agreeably to surprise by 
some unexpected stroke of magnificence and gallantry. Some- 
times he had complete concerts of vocal and instrumental 
music, which he privately brought from Paris, and which 
struck up on a sudden in the midst of these parties ; some- 
times he gave banquets, which likewise came from France, 
and which, even in the midst of London, surpassed the king's 
<ioUations. These entertainments sometimes exceeded, as 
others fell short of his expectations, but they always cost 
him an immense deal of money. 

Lord Falmouth was one of those who had the greatest 
friendship and esteem for the Chevalier de Grammont : this 
profusion gave him concern, and as he often used to go and 
sup with him without ceremony, one day finding only Saint 
Evremond there, and a supper fit for half a dozen guests, who 
had been invited in form : " You must not," said he, address- 
ing himself to the Chevalier de Grammont, " be obliged to me 
for this visit. I come from the king's coucher, where all the 
discourse was about you; and I can assure you that the 
manner in which the king spoke of you, could not afford you 
so much pleasure as I myself felt upon the occasion. You 
know very well, that he has long since offered you his good 
offices with the King of France ; and for my own part," con- 
tinued he, smiling, " you know very well that I would solicit 
him so to do, if it was not through fear of losing you as soon 
as your peace is made ; but, thanks to Miss Hamilton, you 



158 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

for the king not being remarkable for its elegance, the Cheva- 
lier de Grammont was of opinion that something ingenious 
might be invented, which should partake of the ancient 
fashion, and likewise prove preferable to the modern; he 
therefore sent away Termes privately with all the necessary 
instructions to Paris : the Duke of Guise was likewise charged 
with this commission ; and the courier, having by the favour 
of Providence escaped the quicksand, in a month's time 
brought safely over to England the most elegant and mag- 
nificent calash that had ever been seen, which the Chevalier 
j)resented to the king. 

The Chevalier de Grammont had given orders that fifteen 
hundred louis should be expended upon it ; but the Duke of 
Guise, who was his friend, to oblige him, laid out two thou- 
sand. All the court was in admiration at the magnificence 
of the present ; and the king, charmed with the Chevalier's 
attention to everything which could afford him pleasure, 
failed not to acknowledge it : he would not, however, accept 
a present of so much value, but upon condition that the 
Chevalier should not refuse another from him. 

The queen, imagining that so splendid a carriage might 
prove fortunate for her, wished to appear in it first, with the 
Duchess of York. Lady Castlemaine, who had seen them in 
it, thinking that it set off a fine figure to greater advantage than 
any other, desired the king to lend her this wonderful calash 
to appear in it the first fine day in Hyde Park : Miss Stewart 
had the same wish, and requested to have it on the same day. 
As it was impossible to reconcile these two goddesses, whose 
former union was turned into mortal hatred, the king was 
very much perplexed. 

Lady Castlemaine was with child, and threatened to mis- 
carry, if her rival was preferred; Miss Stewart threatened. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 159 

that she never would be with child, if her request was not 
granted. This menace prevailed, and Lady Castlemaine's rage 
was so great, that she had almost kept her word ; and it 
was believed that this triumph cost her rival some of her 
innocence. 

The queen dowager, who, though she had no share in these 
broils, had no objection to them, and as usual being diverted 
with this circumstance, she took occasion to joke with the 
Chevalier de Grammont, for having thrown this bone of con- 
tention among such competitors ; and did not fail to give 
him, in the presence of the whole court, those praises which 
so magnificent a present deserved : " But how comes it," said 
she, " that you have no equipage yourself, though you are 
at so gTcat an expense ? for I am told that you do not keep 
even a single footman, and that one of the common runners in 
the streets lights you home with a stinking link." " Madam," 
said he, " the Chevalier de Grammont hates pomp : my link- 
boy, of whom you speak, is faithful to my service; and 
besides, he is one of the bravest fellows in the world. Your 
Majesty is unacquainted with the nation of link-boys : it is a 
charming one, I can assure you : a man cannot step out in the 
night without being surrounded by a dozen of them. The 
first time I became acquainted with them, I retained all that 
offered me their services ; so that when I arrived at White- 
hall, I had at least two hundred about my chair : the sight 
was new ; for those who had seen me pass with this illumina- 
tion, asked whose funeral it was. These gentlemen, however, 
began fighting about some dozen shillings I had thrown 
among them then; and he whom your Majesty mentions 
having beaten three or four of his companions, I retained him 
for his valour. As for the parade of coaches and footmen, I 
despise it : I have sometimes had five or six valets-de-chambre 



160 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

-at once, witliout having a single servant in livery, except my 
chaplain Poussatin." "How!" said the queen, bursting out 
laughing, "a chaplain in your livery! he surely was not a 
priest ?" " Pardon me, madam," said he, " and the first priest 
in the world for dancing the Biscayan jig." ^' Chevalier," 
said the king, " pray tell us the history of your chaplain 
Poussatin." 







PHI]Lj[BF,1RT COi>l[TjE. TD)JE. GIRAMM^^^-^" 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMOXT. 161 



CHAPTEE VIIL 

" Sir/' said the Clievalier de Granimont, " the Prince de Conde 
besieged Lerida :* the place in itseK was nothing ; but Don 
Gregorio Brice, who defended it, was something. He was one 
of those Spaniards of the old stamp, as A'aliant as the Cid, as 
prond as all the Guzmans pnt together, and more gallant than 
all the Abencerrages of Grenada : he suffered ns to make our 
first approaches to the place without the least molestation. 
The Marshal de Granmiont,-[- whose maxun it was, that a 
governor who at first makes a great blnstermg, and burns his 
suburbs in order to make a noble defence, generally makes a 
very bad one, looked upon Gregorio de Brice's politeness as no 
good omen for us ; but the prince, covered with glory, and 
elated with the campaigns of Eocroy, Norlinguen, and Tri- 
bourg, to insult both the place and the governor, ordered the 

* This was in 1647. Voltaire says "he, Conde, was accused, upon 
this occasion, in certain books, of a bravado, in having opened the 
trenches to the music of violins ; but these wiiters were ignorant that 
this was the custom of Spain." — Age of Lo^iis XIY., chap. 2. 

t Anthony, marechal of France. He appears to have quitted the 
army In 1672. " Le Due de la Teuillade est colonel du regiment des 
gardes sur la demission volontaire du Marechal de Grammont." H^- 
Qimdfs History of Finance. He died, 1678. 

11 



162 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

trendies to be mounted at noon-day by his own regiment, at 
the head of which marched foiir-and-twenty fiddlers, as if it 
had been to a wedding. 

"Mght approaching, we were all in high spirits: our violins 
were playing soft airs, and we were comfortably regaling our- 
selves : God knows how we were joking about the poor gov- 
ernor and his fortifications, both of which we promised our- 
selves to take in less than twenty-four hours. This was going 
on in the trenches, when we heard an ominous cry from the 
ramparts, repeated two or three times, of, ' Alerte on the walls!' 
This cry was followed by a discharge of cannon and musketry, 
and this discharge by a vigorous sally, which, after having 
filled up the trenches, pursued us as far as our grand guard. 

" The next day Gregorio Brice sent by a trumpet a present 
of ice and fruit to the Prince de Conde, humbly beseeching 
his highness to excuse his not returning the serenade which 
he was pleased to favour him with, as unfortunately he had 
no violins ; but that if the music of last night was not dis- 
agreeable to him, he would endeavour to continue it as long 
as he did him the honour to remain before the place. The 
Spaniard was as good as his word ; and as soon as we heard, 
** Alerte on the walls,' we were sure of a sally, that cleared our 
trenches, destroyed our works, and killed the best of our offi- 
cers and soldiers. The prince was so piqued at it, that, con- 
trary to the opinion of the general officers, he obstinately 
persisted in carrying on a siege which was like to ruin his 
army, and which he was at last forced to quit in a hurry. 

" As our troops were retiring, Don Gregorio, far from giving 
himself those airs which governors generally do on such oc- 
casions, made no other sally, than sending a respectful com- 
pliment to the prince. Signer Brice set out not long after for 
Madrid, to give an account of his conduct, and to receive the 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 163 

recompense he had merited. Your majesty perhaps will be 
desirous to know what reception poor Brice met with, after 
having performed the most brilliant action the Spaniards could 
boast of in all the war — he was confined by the inquisition." 

" How !" said the Queen Dowager, " confined by the inqui- 
sition for his services!" "Not altogether for his services," 
s aid the Chevalier ; " but without any regard to his services, 
he was treated in the manner I have mentioned for a little 
affair of gallantry, which I shall relate to the King presently. 

" The campaign of Catalonia being thus ended, we were re- 
turning home, not overloaded with laurels ; but as the Prince 
de Conde had laid up a great store on former occasions, and 
as he had stiE. great projects in his head, he soon forgot this 
trifling misfortune : we did nothing but joke with one another 
during the march, and the prince was the first to ridicule the 
siege. We made some of those rhymes on Lerida, which were 
sung all over France, in order to prevent others more severe ; 
however, we gained nothing by it, for notwithstanding we 
treated ourselves freely in our own ballads, others were com- 
posed in Paris in which we were ten times more severely 
handled. At last we arrived at Perpignan upon a holy-day : 
a company of Catalans, who were dancing in the middle of 
the street^ out of respect to the prince came to dance under 
his windows : Monsieur Poussatin, in a little black jacket, 
danced in the middle of this company, as if he was really mad. 
I immediately recognized him for my countryman, from his 
manner of skipping and frisking about: the prince was 
charmed with his humour and activity. After the dance, I 
sent for him, and inquired who he was : ' A poor priest, at 
your service, my lord,' said he : ^ my name is Poussatin, and 
Beam is my native country : I was going into Catalonia to 
serve in the infantry, for, God be praised, I can march very 

11—2 



164 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 

well on foot ; but since tlie war is happily concluded, if your 
lordship pleases to take me into your service, I would follow 
you everywhere, and serve you faithfully.' ' Monsieur Pous- 
satin,' said I, ' my lordship has no great occasion for a chap- 
lain ; but since you are so well disposed towards me, I will 
take you into my service.' 

" Tlie Prince de Conde, who Avas present at this conver- 
sation, was overjoyed at my haAdng a chaplain. As poor 
Poussatin was in a very tattered condition, I had no time 
to provide him with a proper habit at Perpignan ; but giving 
him a spare livery of one of the - Marshal de Grammont's 
servants, I made him get up behind the prince's coach, who 
•was lilvc to die with laughing every time he looked at poor 
Poussatin's uncanonical mien in a yellow livery. 

" As soon as we arrived at Paris, the story was told to the 
Queen, who at first expressed some suprise at it : this, how- 
ever, did not prevent her from wishing to see my chaplain 
dance ; for in Spain it is not altogether so strange to see 
ecclesiastics dance, as to see them in livery. 

" Poussatin performed wonders before the Queen ; but as 
he danced with great sprightliness, she could not bear the 
odour which his violent motions diffused around her room : 
the ladies likewise began to pray for relief ; for he had almost 
entirely got the better of all the perfumes and essences with 
which they were fortified : Poussatin, nevertheless, retired witl> 
a great deal of applause, and some louis d'or. 

" Some time afterwards I procured a small benefice in the 
country for my chaplain, and I have since been informed 
that Poussatin preached with the same ease in his village as 
he danced at the wedding of his parishioners." 

The King was exceedingly diverted at Poussatin's history ; 
and the Queen was not much hurt at his having been put in 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 165 

livery: the treatment of Gregorio Brice offended her far 
more ; and being desirous to justify the court of Si3ain, with 
respect to so cruel a proceeding : " Chevalier de Grammont," 
said she, " what heresy did Governor Brice wish to introduce 
into the state ? What crime against religion was he charged 
with, that he was confined in the inquisition ?" " Madam," 
said he, " the history is not A'-ery proper to be related before 
your majesty: it was a little amorous frolic, ill-timed in- 
deed ; but poor Brice meant no harm : a school-boy would 
not have been whipped for such a fault, in the most severe 
college in France ; as it was only for giving some proofs of 
his affection to a young Spanish fair one, who had fixed her 
eyes upon him on a solemn occasion." 

The King desired to know the particulars of the adven- 
ture ; and the Chevalier gratified his curiosity, as soon as the 
Queen and the rest of the court were out of hearing. It 
was very entertaining to hear him tell a story ; but it was 
very disagreeable to differ with him, either in competition, or 
in raillery : it is true that at that time there were few per- 
sons at the English court who had merited his indignation : 
PiusseU was sometimes the subject of his ridicule, but he 
treated him far more tenderly than he usually did a rival. 

This Eussell was one of the most furious dancers in all 
England, I mean, for country dances : he had a collection of 
two or three hundred in 23rint, all of which he danced at sight ; 
and to prove that he was not an old man, he sometimes danced 
until he was almost exhausted : his mode of dancing was lilve 
that of his clothes, for they both had been out of fashion full 
twenty years. 

The Chevalier de Grammont was very sensible that he was 
very much in love ; but though he saw very weU that it only 
rendered him more ridiculous, yet he felt some concern at the 



166 MEMOIES OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 

information lie received, of his intention of demanding Miss 
Hamilton in marriage ; but Ms concern did not last long. 

Eussell, being upon the point of setting out on a journey^ 
thought it was proper to acquaint his mistress with his inten- 
tions before his departure. The Chevalier de Grammont was 
a great obstacle to the interview, he was desirous of obtaining 
of her ; but being one day sent for, to go and play at Lady 
Castlemaine's, Eussell seized the opportunity, and addressing 
himself to Miss Hamilton, with less embarrassment than is 
usual on such occasions, he made his declaration to her in the 
following manner : " I am brother to the Earl of Bedford : I 
command the regiment of guards: I have three thousand 
pounds a year, and fifteen thousand in ready money: all 
which, madam, I come to present to you, along with my 
person. One present, I agree, is not worth much without the 
other, and therefore I put them together. I am advised to go 
to some of the watering places for something of an asthma, 
which, in all probability, cannot continue much longer, as I 
have had it for these last twenty years : if you look upon me 
as worthy of the happiness of belonging to you, I shall propose 
it to your father, to whom I did not think it right to apply 
before I was acquainted with your sentiments : my nephew 
William is at present entirely ignorant of my intention ; but 
I believe he will not be sorry for it, though he will thereby 
see himself deprived of a pretty considerable estate ; for he 
has great affection for me, and besides, he has a pleasure in 
paying his respects to you since he has perceived my attach- 
ment. I am very much pleased that he should make his 
court to me, by the attention he pays to you; for he did 
nothing but squander his money upon that coquet Middleton, 
while at present he is at no expense, though he frequents the 
best company in England." 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 167 

Miss Hamilton had much difficulty to supi^ress her laughter 
during this harangue : however, she told him that she thought 
herself much honoured by his intentions towards her, and still 
more obliged to him for consulting her, before he made any 
overtures to her relations : " It will be time enough," said she, 
" to speak to them upon the subject at your return from the 
waters ; for I do not think it is at all probable that they will 
dispose of me before that time, and in case they should be 
urgent in their solicitations, your nephew William will take 
care to acquaint you; therefore, you may set out whenever 
you think proper ; but take care not to injure your health by 
returning too soon." 

The Chevalier de Grammont, having heard the particulars 
of this conversation, endeavoured, as well as he could, to be 
entertained with it ; though there were certain circumstances 
in the declaration, notwithstanding the absurdity of others, 
which did not fail to give him some uneasiness. Upon the 
whole, he was not sorry for Eussell's departure ; and, assuming 
an air of pleasantry, he went to relate to the king how 
Heaven had favoured him by delivering him from so dan- 
gerous a rival. " He is gone then, Chevalier," said the king. 
" Certainly, sir," said he ; "I had the honour to see him em- 
bark in a coach, with his asthma, and country equipage, his 
perruque a calotte, neatly tied with a yellow riband, and his 
old-fashioned hat covered with oil skin, which becomes him 
uncommonly well: therefore, I have only to contend with 
William Eussell, whom he leaves as his resident with Miss 
Hamilton ; and as for him, I neither fear him upon his own 
account, nor his uncle's ; he is too much in love himself to 
pay attention to the interests of another ; and as he has but 
one method of promoting his own, which is by sacrificing the 
portrait, or some love-letters of Mrs. Middleton, I have it 



168 MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

easily in my power to counteract him in such kind of favours, 
though I confess I have pretty well paid for them." 

" Since your affairs proceed so prosperously with the Eus- 
sells," said the king, " I will acquaint you that you are de- 
livered from another rival, much more dangerous, if he were 
not already married: my brother has lately fallen in love 
with Lady Chesterfield." "How many blessings at once!" 
exclaimed the Chevalier de Grammont: "I have so many 
obligations to him for this inconstancy, that I would wil- 
lingly serve him in his new amour, if Hamilton was not his 
rival : nor will your majesty take it ill, if I promote the in- 
terests of my mistress's brother, rather than those of your 
majesty's brother." " Hamilton, however," said the king, 
" does not stand so much in need of assistance, in affairs of 
this nature, as the Duke of York ; but I know Lord Chester- 
field is of such a disposition, that he will not suffer men to 
quarrel about his wife, with the same patience as the com- 
plaisant Shrewsbury ; though he well deserves the same fate." 
Here follows a true description of Lord Chesterfield.* 

He had a very agreeable face, a fine head of hair, an indif- 
ferent shape, and a worse air ; he was not, however, deficient 
in wit : a long residence in Italy had made him ceremonious 
in his commerce with men, and jealous in his connection with 
women : he had been much hated by the king ; because he 

* PhiHp, the second Earl of Chesterfield. He was constituted, in 
1 662, lord-chamberlain to the queen, and colonel of a regiment of foot, 
June 13, 1667. On November 29, 1679, he was appointed lord-warden 
and chief -justice of the king's forests on this side Trent, and sworn of 
the privy-council, January 26, 1680. On November 6, 1682, he was made 
colonel of the third regiment of foot, which, with the rest of his pre- 
ferments, he resigned on the accession of James II. He lived to the 
age of upwards of 80, and died, January 28, 17 13, at his house, in 
Bloomsbury-square. 




■irzidyi: 



JE.Scriyen S. 



lEAIil. 01' CSlESTElRrilE.XlD 



1 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 169 

had been much beloved by Lady Castlemaine : it was re- 
ported that he had been in her good graces prior to her 
marriage ; and as neither of them denied it, it was the more 
.generally believed. 

He had paid his devoirs to the eldest daughter of the Duke 
of Ormond, while his heart was still taken up with his former 
passion : the king's love for Lady Castlemaine, and the ad- 
vancement he expected from such an alliance, made him press 
"the match with as much ardour as if he had been passionately 
in love : he had therefore married Lady Chesterfield without 
loving her, and had lived some time with her in such cool- 
ness as to leave her no room to doubt of his indifference. 
As she was endowed with great sensibility and delicacy, she 
suffered at this contempt : she was at first much affected with 
his behaviour, and afterwards enraged at it; and, when he 
•began to give her proofs of liis affection, she had the pleasure 
of convincing him of her indifference. 

They were upon this footing, when she resolved to cure 
Hamilton, as she had lately done her husband, of all his re- 
maining tenderness for Lady Castlemaine. For her it was no 
'difficult undertaking: the conversation of the one was dis- 
agreeable, from the unpohshed state of her manners, her ill- 
timed pride, her uneven temper, and extravagant humours : 
Lady Cliesterfield, on the contrary, knew how to heighten 
her charms with all the bewitching attractions in the power 
of a woman to invent who wishes to make a conquest. 

Besides all this, she had greater opportunities of making 
advances to him than to any other : she lived at the Duke 
of Ormond's, at Whitehall, where Hamilton, as was said 
before, had free admittance at all hours : her extreme cold- 
ness, or rather the disgust which she showed for her husband's 
returning affection, wakened his natural inclination to jealousy: 



170 MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

lie suspected that she could not so very suddenly pass from 
anxiety to indifference for him, without some secret object of 
a new attaclmient ; and, according to the maxim of all jealous 
husbands, he immediately put in practice all his experience 
and industry, in order to make a discovery, iwhich was to 
destroy his own happiness. 

Hamilton, who knew his disposition, was, on the other 
hand, upon his guard, and the more he advanced in his in- 
trigue, the more attentive was he to remove every degree of 
suspicion from the Earl's mind : he pretended to make him 
his confidant, in the most unguarded and open manner, of his 
passion for Lady Castlemaine : he complained of her caprice, 
and most earnestly desired his advice how to succeed with a 
person whose affections he alone had entirely possessed. 

Chesterfield, who was flattered with this discourse, ])vo- 
mised him his protection with greater sincerity than it had 
been demanded: Hamilton, therefore, was no further em- 
barrassed than to preserve Lady Chesterfield's reputation, 
who, in his opinion, declared herself rather too openly in his 
favour : but whilst he was diligently employed in regulatingv 
within the rules of discretion, the partiality she expressed for 
him, and in conjuring her to restrain her glances within 
bounds, she was receiving those of the Duke of York ; and, 
what is more, made them favourable returns. 

He thought that he had perceived it, as well as every one 
besides ; but he thought likewise, that all the world was de- 
ceived as well as himself: how could he trust liis own eyes, 
as to what those of Lady Chesterfield betrayed for this new 
rival ? He could not think it probable, that a woman of her 
dis^Dosition could relish a man, whose manners had a thousand 
times been the subject of their private ridicule ; but what he 
judged still more improbable was, that she should begin 



MEMOIRS OF cou:n^t geammont. 171 

another intrigue before she had given the finishing stroke to 
that in which her own advances had engaged her : however,, 
he began to observe her with more circumspection, when he 
found by his discoveries, that if she did not deceive him, at 
least the desire of doing so was not wanting. This he took 
the liberty of telluig her of ; but she answered him in so high 
a strain, and treated what he said so much like a phantom of 
his own imagination, that he appeared confused without being 
convinced : all the satisfaction he could j^rocure from her, was 
her telling him, in a haughty manner, that such unjust re- 
proaches as his ought to have had a better foundation. 

Lord Chesterfield had taken the same alarm; and being 
convinced, from the observations he had made, that he had 
found out the happy lover who had gained possession of his 
lady's heart, he was satisfied ; and without teasing her with 
unnecessary reproaches, he only waited for an opportunity ta 
confound her, before he took his measures. 

After all, how can we account for Lady Chesterfield's con- 
duct, unless we attribute it to the disease incident to most 
coquettes, who, charmed with superiority, put in practice 
every art to rob another of her conquest, and spare nothing, 
to preserve it. 

But before we enter into the particulars of this adventure, 
let us take a retrospect of the amours of his Eoyal Highness, 
prior to the declaration of his marriage, and particularly of 
what immediately preceded this declaration. It is allowable 
sometimes to drop the thread of a narrative, when real facts,, 
not generally known, give such a variety upon the digression 
as to render it excusable : let us see then how those thino\s 
happened. 

The Duke of York's marriage,"^ with the chancellor's 

* The material facts in this narrative are confirmed by Lord Claren- 



Iv2 MEMOIES OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 

daughter, was deficient in none of those circumstances which 
render contracts of this nature valid in the eye of heaven : 
the mutual inclination, the formal ceremony, witnesses, and 
every essential point of matrimony, had been observed. 

Though the bride was no perfect beauty, yet, as there were 
none at the court of Holland who eclipsed her, the Duke, 
during the first endearments of matrimony, was so far from 
repenting of it, that he seemed only to wish for the King's 
restoration that he might have an opportunity of declaring 
it with splendour ; but when he saw himself enjoying a rank 
which placed him so near the throne; when the possession 
of Miss Hyde afforded him no new charms ; when England, 
so abounding in beauties, displayed all that was charming and 
lovely in the court of the King his brother ; and when he 
considered he was the only prince, who, from such superior 
elevation, had- descended so low, he began to reflect upon it. 
On the one hand, liis marriage appeared to him particularly 
ill suited in every respect : he recollected that Jermyn had 
not engaged him in an intimacy with Miss Hyde, until he had 
€onvinced him, by several different circumstances, of the 
facility of succeeding: he looked upon his marriage as an 
infringement of that duty and obedience he owed to the 
King ; the indignation with which the court, and even the 
whole kingdom, would receive the account of his marriage 
presented itself to his imagination, together with the im- 
possibdity of obtaining the King's consent to such an act, 
which for a thousand reasons he would be obliged to refuse. 
On the other hand, the tears and despair of poor Miss Hyde 

don. — Continuation of his Life, p. 33. It is difficult to speak of the 
persons concerned in this infamous transaction without some degree of 
asperity, notwithstanding they are, by a strange perversion of language, 
styled, all men of honour. 




.rcrT. 



T :HI €) IM A. S . KI TL J . 1R c& '!^.l^^^^ 



I 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 17 o 

presented themselves ; and still more than that, he felt a 
remorse of conscience, the scruples of which began from 
that time to rise up against him. 

In the midst of this perplexity he opened his heart to 
Lord Ealmoiith, and consulted with him what method he 
ought to pursue : He could not have applied to a better man 
for his own interests, nor to a worse for Miss Hyde's ; for at 
first, Falmouth maintained not only that he was not married' 
but that it was even impossible that he could ever have 
formed such a thought ; that any marriage was invalid for 
him, which was made without the King's consent, even if the 
party was a suitable match : but that it was a mere jest, 
even to tliink of the daughter of an insignificant lawyer, 
whom the favour of his sovereign had lately made a peer of 
the realm, without any noble blood, and chancellor, without 
any capacity ; that as for his scruples, he had only to give 
ear to some gentlemen whom he could introduce, who would 
thoroughly inform him of Miss Hyde's conduct before he 
became acquainted with her ; and provided he did not tell 
them that he really was married, he would soon have suffi- 
cient grounds to come to a determination. 

The Duke of York consented, and Lord Falmouth, having 
assembled both his council and his witnesses, conducted them 
to his Eoyal Highness's cabinet, after having instructed them 
how to act : these gentlemen were the Earl of Arran, Jermyn, 
Talbot, and Killegrew, all men of honour ; but who infinitely 
preferred the Duke of York's interest to Miss Hyde's repu- 
tation, and who, besides, were greatly dissatisfied, as well 
as the whole court, at the insolent authority of the prime 
minister. 

The Duke having told them, after a sort of preamble, that 
although they could not be ignorant of his aftection for Miss 



174 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

Hyde, yet they might be unacquainted with the engagements 
his tenderness for her had induced him to contract ; that he 
thought himself obliged to perform all the promises he had 
made her ; but as the innocence of persons of her age was 
generally exposed to court scandal, and as certain reports, 
whether false or true, had been spread abroad on the subject 
of her conduct, he conjured them as his friends, and charged 
them upon their duty, to tell liim sincerely everything they 
knew upon the subject, since he was resolved to make their 
evidence the rule of his conduct towards her. They all 
appeared rather reserved at first, and seemed not to dare to 
give their opinions upon an affair of so serious and delicate 
a nature ; but the Duke of York having renewed his in- 
treaties, each began to relate the particulars of what he knew, 
and perhaps of more than he knew, of poor Miss Hyde ; nor 
•did they omit any circumstance necessary to strengthen the 
evidence. For instance the Earl of Arran, who spoke first, 
deposed, that in the gallery at Honslaerdyk, where the 
Countess of Ossory, his sister-in-law, and Jermyn, were 
playing at nine-pins, Miss Hyde, pretending to be sick, 
retired to a chamber at the end of the gallery ; that he, the 
deponent, had followed her, and having cut her lace, to give a 
greater probability to the pretence of the vapours, he had 
acquitted himself to the best of his abilities, both to assist 
and to console her. 

Talbot said, that she had made an appointment with him 
in the chancellor's cabinet, while he was in council; and, 
that, not paying so much attention to what was upon the 
table as to what they were engaged in, they had spilled a 
bottle full of ink upon a despatch of four pages, and that the 
King's monkey, which was blamed for this accident, had been 
a long time in disgrace. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 175 

Jermyn mentioned many places where he had received long 
.land favourable audiences : however, all these articles of accu- 
sation amounted only to some delicate familiarities, or at 
most, to what is generally denominated the innocent part of 
.an intrigue; but Killegrew, who wished to surpass these 
trivial depositions, boldly declared that he had had the 
honour of being upon the most intimate terms with her: 
he was of a sprightly and witty humour, and had the art of 
telling a story in the most entertaining manner, by the grace- 
ful and natural turn he could give it : he affirmed that he had 
found the critical minute in a certain closet built over the 
water, for a purpose very different from that of giving ease 
to the pains of love : that three or four swans had been wit- 
nesses to Ms happiness, and might perhaps have been wit- 
nesses to the happiness of many others, as the lady frequently 
repaired to that place, and was particularly delighted 
with it. 

The Duke of York found this last accusation greatly out of 
bounds, being convinced he himself had sufficient proofs of 
the contrary : he therefore returned thanks to these officious 
informers for their frankness, ordered them to be silent for 
the future upon what they had been telling him, and imme- 
diately passed into the King's apartment. 

As soon as he had entered the cabinet. Lord Falmouth, 
who had followed him, related what had passed to the Earl of 
Ossory, whom he met in the presence chamber: they strongly 
suspected what was the subject of the conversation of the two 
brothers, as it was long ; and the Duke of York appeared to 
be in such agitation when he came out, that they no longer 
•doubted that the result had been unfavourable for poor Miss 
Hyde. Lord Falmouth began to be affected for her disgrace, 
and to relent that he had been concerned in it, when the 



176 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMOXT. 

Duke of York told him and the Earl of Ossoiy to meet him 
in about an hour's time at the chancellor's. 

They were rather surprised that he should have the cruelty 
himself to announce such a melancholy piece of news : they 
found his Koyal Highness at the appointed hour in Miss 
Hyde's chamber : a few tears trickled down her cheeks,, 
which she endeavoured to restrain. The chancellor, leaning 
against the wall, appeared to them to be puffed up with some- 
thing, which they did not doubt was rage and despair. The 
Duke of York said to them, with that serene and j)leasant 
countenance with which men generally announce good news :. 
" As you are the two men of the court whom I most esteem, 
I am desirous you should first have the honour of paying 
your compliments to the Duchess of York : there she is." 

Surprise was of no use, and astonishment was unseasonable' 
on the present occasion : tliey were, however, so greatly pos- 
sessed with both surprise and astonishment, that in order ta 
conceal it, they immediately fell on their knees to kiss her 
hand, which she gave to them with as much majesty as if she^ 
had been used to it all her life. 

The next day the news was made public, and the whole 
court was eager to pay her that respect, from a sense of duty,, 
which in the end became very sincere. 

The petits-maitres who had spoken against her, seeing 
their intentions disa^Dpointed, were not a little embarrassed. 
Women are seldom accustomed to forgive injuries of this 
nature ; and, if they promise themselves the pleasure of re- 
venge, when they gain the power they seldom forget it : in 
the present case, however, the fears of these petits-maitres 
were their only punishment. 

The Duchess of York, being fully informed of all that was 
said in the cabinet concerning her, instead of showing the 




ILABT SOUTinjE S K 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT, 177 

least, resentment, studied to distinguish, by all manner of 
kindness and good offices, tliose who had attacked her in so 
sensible a part ; nor did she ever mention it to them, but 
in order to praise their zeal, and to tell them : " that nothing 
was a greater proof of the attachment of a man of honour, 
than his being more solicitous for the interest of his friend or 
master, than for his own reputation :" a remarkable example 
of prudence and moderation, not only for tlie fair sex, but 
even for those who value themselves most upon their philo- 
sophy among the men. 

The Duke of York, having quieted his conscience by the 
declaration of his marriage, tliought that lie was entitled, by this 
generous effort, to give way a little to his inconstancy : he 
therefore immediately seized upon whatever he could first lay 
his hands upon: this, was .Lady Carnegy,* who had been in 
several other hands. She was still tolerably handsome, and 
her disposition, naturally inclined to tenderness, did not 
oblige her new lover long to languish. Everytliing coin- 
cided with , their wishes for some* time : Lord Carnegy, her 
husband, wa^s Jn • Scotland ; but his father dying suddenly, he 
as suddenly returned with the title of Southesk, which his 
Avife detested ; but which she took more patiently than she 
received t]ie news of his return. Some private intimation 
Lad been given him of the honour that was done him in his 
absence : nevertheless, he did not show his jealousy at first ; 
but, as he was desirous to be satisfied of the reality of the 
fact, he kept a strict watch over his wife's actions. The 
Duke of York and her ladyship had, for some time, been upon 
such terms of intimacy, as not to pass their time in frivolous 
amusements ; however, the husband's return obliged them to 

* Anne, daughter of William, Duke of Hamilton, and wife of Kobert 
Carnegy, Earl of Southesk. 

12 



178 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

maintain some decorum : he therefore never went to her 
house, but in form, that is to say, always accompanied by 
some friend or other, to give his amours at least the ap- 
pearance of a visit. 

About this time Talbot* returned from Portugal : this 
connection had taken place during his absence ; and without 
knowing who Lady Southesk was, he had been informed that 
his master was in love with her. 

A few days after his arrival, he was carried, merely to keep 
up appearances, to her house by the duke ; and after being 
introduced, and some compliments having been paid on both 
sides, he thought it his duty to give his Eoyal Highness an 
opportunity to pay his compliments, and accordingly retired 
into the ante- chamber, which looked into the street, and 
placed himself at the window to view the people as they 
passed. 

He was one of the best meaning men in the world on such 
occasions ; but was so subject to forgetfulness, and absence of 
mind, that he once forgot, and left behind him at London, a 
complimentary letter which the duke had given him for the 
Infanta of Portugal, and never recollected it till he was going 
to his audience. 

He stood sentry, as we have before said, very attentive to 
his instructions, when he saw a coach stop at the door, with- 
out being in the least concerned at it, and still less, at a man 
whom he saw get out of it, and whom he immediately heard 
coming upstairs. 

The devil, who ought to be civil upon such occasions, forgot 

himself in the present instance, and brought up Lord Southesk 

in propria persona : his Eoyal Highness's equipage had been 

sent home, because my lady had assured him that her hus- 

* Afterwards Duke of Tyrconnel, — See note on p, 222. 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 179 

band was gone to see a bear and a bull baiting, an entertain- 
ment in which he took great delight, and from whence he 
seldom returned until it was very late ; so that Southesk, not 
seeing any equipage at the door, little imagined that he had 
such good company in his house ; but if he was surprised to 
see Talbot carelessly lolling in his wife's ante-chamber, his 
surprise was soon over. Talbot, who had not seen him since 
they were in Flanders, and never supposing that he had 
changed his name : " Welcome,, Carnegy, welcome, my good 
fellow," said he, giving him his hand, " where the devil have 
you been, that I have never been able to set eyes on you 
since we were at Brussels ? What business brought you 
here ? Do you likewise wish to see Lady Southesk ? If 
this is your intention, my poor friend, you may go away 
again ; for I must inform you, the Duke of York is in love 
with her, and I will tell you in confidence, that, at this very 
time, he is in her chamber." 

Southesk, confounded as one may suppose, had no time to 
answer all these fine questions : Talbot, therefore, attended 
him downstairs as his friend; and, as his humble servant, 
advised him to seek for a mistress elsewhere. Southesk, not 
knowing what else to do at that time, returned to his coach ; 
and Talbot, overjoyed at the adventure, impatiently waited 
for the duke's return, that he might acquaint him with it ; 
but he was very much surprised to find that the story afforded 
no pleasure to those who had the principal share in it ; and 
his greatest concern was, that Carnegy had changed his name, 
as if only to draw him into such a confidence. 

This accident broke off a commerce which the Duke of 
York did not much regret ; and indeed it was happy for him 
that he became indifferent ; for the traitor Southesk meditated 

12—2 



180 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

a revenge,* whereby, witliout using either assassination or 
poison, he would have obtained some satisfaction upon those 
^ who had injured him, if the connection had continued any 
longer. 

He Avent to tlie most infamous places, to seek for the most 
infamous disease, which he met with; but his revenge was 
only half completed ; for after he had gone through every 
remedy to get quit of his disease, his lady did but return him 
his j)resent, having no more connection with the person for 
whom it was so industriously prepared. 

Lady Robarts*f* was then in the zenith of her glory ; her 

* Bishop Burnet, taking notice of the Duke of York's amours, says, 
" a story was set about, and generally believed, that the Earl of South- 
esk, that had married a daughter of the Duke of Hamilton's, suspecting 
some familiarities between the duke and his wife, had taken a sure 
method to procure a disease to himself, which he communicated to his 
wife, and was, by that means, sent round till it came to the duchess. 
Lord South esk was, for some years, not ill pleased to have this believed. 
It looked like a peculiar strain of revenge, with which he seemed much 
delighted. But I know he has, to some of his friends, denied the whole 
of the story very solemnly." — History of His Oivn Times, vol. i.,p. 319. 
It is worthy of notice that the passage in the text was omitted in most 
editions of Grammont, and retained in that of Strawberry-hill, in 1772. 

+ Lord Orford says, this lady was Sarah, daughter of John Bodville 
of Bodville castle, in Caernarvonshire, wife of Eobert Eobarts, who 
died in the lifetime of his father, and was eldest son of John, Earl of 
Eadnor. This, however, may be doubted. There was no Earl of Eadnor 
until the year 1679, which was after the date of most, if not all the 
transactions related in this work; consequently, no other person, who 
could be called Lord Eobarts, than John, the second lord, who was 
created Earl of Eadnor, with whose character several of the qualities 
here enumerated, particularly his age, moroseness, &c., will be found to 
agree. Supposing this to be admitted, the lady will be Isabella, daughter 
of Sir John Smith Knight, second wife of the above John, Lord 
Eobarts, whose character is thus pourtrayed by Lord Clarendon : — 
" Though of a good understanding, he was of so morose a nature, that 
it was no easy matter to treat with him. He had some pedantic 




i 



JHrX.Itlv I. 



I, AIDX :R ( ) 15 A3^ T ;^ 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 181 

beaiit/y was striking ; yet, notwithstanding the brightness of 
the finest complexion, with all the bloom of youth, and withT 
every requisite for inspiring desire, she nevertheless was not 
attractive. The Duke of York, however, would probably have 
been successful, if difficulties, almost insurmountable, had not 
disappointed his good intentions : Lord Eobarts, her husband, 
was an old, snarling, troublesome, peevish fellow, in love with 
her to distraction, and to complete her misery, a perpetual 
attendant on her person. 

She perceived his Eoyal Highness's attachment to her, and 
seemed as if she was inclined to be grateful : tliis redoubled 
liis eagerness, and every outward mark of tenderness he could 
possibly show her ; but the watchful husband redoubling his 
zeal and assiduity, as he found the approaches advance, every 
art was practised to render him tractable : several attacks were 
made upon his avarice and his ambition. Those who possessed 
the greatest share of his confidence, insinuated to him that it 
was his own fault if Lady Eobarts, who was so worthy of being 
at court, was not received into some considerable post, either 

parts of learning, which made his other parts of judgment the worst. 
He was naturally proud and imperious, which humour was increased by 
an ill education ; for, excepting some years spent in the Inns of Court, 
he might very justly be said to have been born and bred in Cornwall. 
When lord-deputy in Ireland, he received the information of the chief 
persons there so negligently, and gave his answers so scornfully, that 
they besought the king that they might not be obliged to attend him 
any more : but he was not a man that was to be disgraced and thrown 
off without much inconvenience and hazard. He had parts, which in 
council and parliament, were very troublesome ; for, of all men alive, 
who had so few friends, he had the most followers. They who con- 
versed most with him knew him to have many humours which were 
very intolerable ; they who were but little acquainted with him took 
Jiim to be a man of much knowledge, and called his morosity gravity/ 
— Continimtion of Clarendon^ p. 102. 



182 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

about the queen or the duchess : he was offered to be made 
Lord Lieutenant of the county where his estate was; or 
to have the management of the Duke of York's revenues in 
Ireland, of which he should have the entire disposal, provided 
he immediately set out to take possession of his charge ; and 
having accomplished it, he might return as soon as ever he 
thought proper. 

He perfectly well understood the meaning of these proposals, 
and was fully apprised of the advantages he might reap from 
them : in vain did ambition and avarice hold out their allure- 
ments ; he was deaf to all their temptations, nor could ever the 
old fellow be persuaded to be made a cuckold. It is not always 
an aversion to, or a dread of this distinction, which preserves 
us from it : of this her husband was very sensible ; therefore, 
under the pretence of a pilgrimage to Saint Winifred, the vir- 
gin and martyr, who was said to cure women of barrenness, 
he did not rest, until the highest mountains in Wales were 
between his wife and the person who had designed to perform 
this miracle in London, after his departure. 

The duke was for some time entirely taken up with the 
pleasures of the chase, and only now and then engaged in 
those of love ; but liis taste having undergone a change in this 
particular, and the remembrance of Lady Eobarts wearing off 
by degrees, his eyes and wishes were turned towards Miss 
Brook ; and it was in the height of this pursuit that Lady 
Chesterfield threw herself into his arms, as we shall see by 
resuming the sequel of her adventures. 

The Earl of Bristol,* ever restless and ambitious, had put 

* George Digby. The account here given of the practices of this noble- 
man receives confirmation from Lord Clarendon, who observes of him, 
"that he had left no way unattempted to render himself gracious to the 
king, by saying and doing all that might be acceptable unto him, and 




.rr^Xuuhck T. 



XDlCiJBTr ]E..M^I. 0)F BlilST^ni. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 183 

in practice every art, to possess himself of the king's favour. 
As this is the same Digby whom Count Bussy mentions in his 
annals, it will be sufficient to say that he was not at all 
changed : he knew that love and pleasure had possession of a 
master, whom he himself governed, in defiance of the chancellor; 
thus he was continually gTOng entertainments at his house ; 
and luxury and elegance seemed to rival each other in those 
nocturnal feasts, which always lead to other enjoyments. The 
two Miss Brooks, his relations, were always of those parties ; 
they were both formed by nature to excite love in others, as 
well as to be susceptible of it themselves ; they were just what 
the king wanted : the earl, from this commencement, was be- 
ginning to entertain a good opinion of his j)roject, when Lady 
Castlemaine, who had lately gained entire possession of the 
king's heart, was not in a humour, at that time, to share it 
with another, as she did very indiscreetly afterwards, despising 
Miss Stewart. As soon, therefore, as she received intimation 
of these secret practices, under pretence of attending the king- 
in his parties, she entirely disconcerted them; so that the earl 
was obliged to lay aside his ]3i-ojects, and Miss Brook to dis- 
continue her advances. The king did not even dare to think 

contriving such meetings and jolHties as he was pleased with." — Con- 
tinuation of his Life, p. 208. Lord Orford says of him, that " his life 
was one contradiction. He wrote against popery, and embraced it ; lie 
was a zealous opposer of the court, and a sacrifice to it ; was conscien- 
tiously converted in the midst of his prosecution of Lord Strafford, and 
was most un conscientiously a prosecutor of Lord Clarendon, With 
great parts, he always hurt himself and liis friends ; with romantic 
bravery, he was always an unsuccessful commander. He spoke for the 
Test Act, though a Eoman Catholic, and addicted himself to astrology on 
the birthday of true ^hiloBO'^h.j J'— Catalogue of Royal and Noble 
Authors, vol. ii., p. 25. The histories of England abound with the 
adventures of this inconsistent nobleman, who died, neither loved nor 
regretted by any party, in the year 167G. 



184 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

any more on this subject ; but bis brother was pleased to look 
after what he neglected ; and Miss Brook accepted the offer of 
his heart, until it pleased heaven to dispose of her otherwise, 
which happened soon after in the following manner. 

Sir John Denham,^ loaded with wealth as well as years, had 
passed his youth in the midst of those pleasures which people 
at that age indulge in without restraint ; he was one of the 
brightest geniuses England ever produced, for wit and humour, 
and for brilliancy of composition: satirical and free in his 
poems, he spared neither frigid ^vriters, nor jealous husbands, 
nor even their wives: every part abounded with the most 
poignant wit, and the most entertaining stories ; but liis most 
delicate and spirited raillery turned generally against matri- 

*■ That Sir John Deuham " had passed his youth in the midst of those 
pleasures which people at that age indulge in without restraint," all his 
biographers seem to admit ; but, if our author is to be relied on, Wood's 
account of the date of his birth, 1615, must be erroneous. He was not 
loaded with years when he died, if that statement is true ; and so far 
from being seventy-nine when he married Miss Brook, he had not at- 
tained the age of more than fifty- three when he died. In this particular, 
I am inclined to doubt the accuracy of "Wood, who omits to mention 
that Sir John had a former wife, by whom he had a daughter. In the 
year 1667, he appears to have been a lunatic, either real or feigned. 
Lord Lisle, in a letter to Sir WilUam Temple, dated September 26th, 
says, " — poor Sir John Denham is fallen to the ladies also. He is at 
many of the meetings at dinners, talks more than ever he did, and is 
extremely pleased with those that seem willing to hear him, and, from 
that obligation, exceedingly praises the Duchess of Monmouth and my 
Lady Cavendish. If he had not the name of being mad, I believe, in 
most companies, he would be thought wittier than ever he was. He 
seems to have few extravagances besides that of telling stories of him- 
self, which he is always inclined to. Some of his acquaintance say, 
that extreme vanity was the cause of his madness, as well as it is an 
effect." — Templets Worlcs, vol. i., p. 484. In Butler's Posthumous Works, 
vol. ii., p. 155, is an abuse of Sir John Denham, under the title of "a 
Panegyric upon his recovery from his Madness." Sir John died 19th 
March, 1668, and was buried in AVestminster-abbey. 




MIsSS jBTR'D^iv^ arft.eirw'air^ds XAXrr\)'Ej^IHAM 



MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 185 

mony ; and, as if he wished to confirm, by his own example, 
the truth of what he had written in his youth, he married, at 
the age of seventy-nine, this Miss Brook of whom we are 
speaking, who was only eighteen. 

The Duke of York had rather neglected her for some time 
before ; but the circumstance of so unequal a match rekindled 
his ardour ; and she, on her part, suffered him to. entertain 
hopes of an approaching bliss, which a thousand considerations 
had opposed before her marriage: she wished to belong to the 
-court ; and for the promise of being made lady of the bed- 
chamber to the duchess, she was upon the point of making 
him another promise, or of immediately performing it, if re- 
quired, when, in the middle of this treaty. Lady Chesterfield 
was tempted, by her evil genius, to rob her of her conquest, in 
order to disturb all the world. 

However, as Lady Chesterfield could not see the Duke of 
York, except in public assemblies, she was under the necessity 
of making the most extravagant advances, in order to seduce 
him from his former connection ; and as he was the most un- 
guarded ogier of his time, the whole court was informed of the 
intrigue before it was well begun. 

Those who appeared the most attentive to their conduct 
were not the least interested in it. Hamilton and Lord Ches- 
terfield watched them narrowly; but Lady Denham, vexed 
that Lady Chesterfield should have stepped in before her, took 
the liberty of railing against her rival with the greatest bitter- 
ness. Hamilton had hitherto flattered himself that vanity 
alone had engaged Lady Chesterfield in this adventure; but 
he was soon undeceived, whatever her indifference might have 
been when she first commenced this intrigue. We often pro- 
ceed farther than we at first intended, when we indulge 
♦ourselves in trifling liberties which we think of no consequence ; 



186 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

for thougli perhaps the heart takes no part at the beginning, it 
seldom fails to be engaged in the end. 

The conrt, as we have mentioned before, was an entire scene 
of gallantry and amusements, with all the politeness and mag- 
nificence which the inclinations of a prince naturally addicted 
to tenderness and pleasure, could suggest : the beauties were 
desirous of charming, and the men endeavoured to please : all 
studied to set themselves off to the best advantage: some 
distinguished themselves by dancing; others by show and 
magnificence ; some by their wit, many by their amours, but 
few by their constancy. There was a certain Italian at court, 
famous for the guitar : he had a genius for music, and he was 
the only man who could make anything of the guitar : his style 
of play was so full of grace and tenderness, that he would have 
given harmony to the most discordant instruments. The truth 
is, nothing was so difficult as to play like this foreigner. The 
king's relish for his compositions had brought the instrument 
so much into vogue, that every person played upon it, well or 
ill; and you were as sure to see a guitar on a lady's toilet 
as rouge or patches. The Duke of York played upon it toler- 
ably well, and the Earl of Arran like Francisco himself This 
Francisco had composed a saraband, which either charmed or 
infatuated every person ; for the whole guitarery at court were 
trying at it; and God knows what an universal strumming 
there was. The Duke of York, pretending not to be perfect 
in it, desired Lord Arran to play it to him. Lady Chesterfield 
had the best guitar in England. The Earl of Arran, who was 
desirous of playing his best, conducted his Koyal Highness to 
his sister's apartments : she was lodged at court, at her father's, 
the Duke of Ormond's ; and this wonderful guitar was lodged 
there too. Whether this ^dsit had been preconcerted or not, I 
do not pretend to say ; but it is certain that they found both 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 187 

the lady and the guitar at home : they likewise found there 
Lord Chesterfield, so much surprised at this unexpected visit,, 
that it was a considerable time before he thought of rising 
from his seat to receive them with due respect. 

Jealousy, like a malignant vapour, now seized upon his 
brain : a thousand suspicions, blacker than ink, took possession 
of his imagination, and were continually increasing ; for, whilst 
the brother played upon the guitar to the duke, the sister 
ogled and accompanied him with her eyes, as if the coast had 
been clear, and no enemy to observe them. This saraband was 
at least repeated twenty times: the duke declared it was 
played to perfection : Lady Chesterfield found fault with the 
composition ; but her husband, who clearly perceived that he 
was the person played upon, thought it a most detestable 
piece. However, though he was in the last agony at being 
obliged to curb his passion while others gave a free scope to 
theirs, he was resolved to find out the drift of the visit ; but it 
was not in his power : for, having the honour to be chamber- 
lain to the queen, a messenger came to require his immediate 
attendance on her majesty. His first thought was to pretend 
sickness : the second to suspect that the queen, who sent for 
him at such an unseasonable time, was in the plot ; but at last, 
after all the extravagant ideas of a suspicious man, and all the 
irresolutions of a jealous husband, he was obliged to go. 

We may easily imagine what his state of mind was when he 
arrived at the palace. Alarms are to the jealous what disas- 
ters are to the unfortunate : they seldom come alone, but form 
a series of j)ersecution. He was informed that he was sent for 
to attend the queen at an audience she gave to seven or eight 
Muscovite ambassadors: he had scarce begun to curse the 
Muscovites, when his brother-in-law appeared, and drew upon 
himself all the imprecations he bestowed upon the embassy ; 



188 MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

lie no longer doubted his being in the plot with the two 
persons he had left together, and in his heart sincerely wished 
him such recompense for his good offices as such good offices 
deserved. It was with great difficulty that he restrained him- 
jself from immediately acquainting him what was his opinion of 
such conduct : he tliought that what he had already seen was 
a sufficient proof of his wife's infidelity ; but before the end 
of the very same day, some circumstances occurred which 
increased his suspicions, and persuaded him that they had 
taken advantage of his absence, and of the honourable officious- 
ness of his brother-in-law. He passed, however, that night 
with tranquillity ; but the next morning, being reduced to the 
necessity either of bursting or giving vent to his sorrows and 
conjectures, he did nothing but think and walk about the 
room until Park-time. He went to court, seemed very busy, 
as if seeking for some person or other, imagining that people 
guessed at the subject of his uneasiness : he avoided every- 
body, but at length meeting with Hamilton, he thought 
he was the very man that he wanted ; and, having desired 
him to take an airing with him in Hyde Park, he took him up 
in his coach, and they arrived at the Ring, without a word 
having passed between them. 

Hamilton, who saw him as yellow as jealousy itself, and 
particularly thoughtful, imagined that he had just discovered 
what all the world had perceived long before ; when Chester- 
field, after a broken, insignificant preamble, asked him how he 
succeeded with Lady Castlemaine. Hamilton, who very well 
saw that he meant nothing by this question, nevertheless 
thanked him ; and as he was thinking of an answer : " Your 
•cousin/' said the earl, "is extremely coquettish, and I have 
some reason to suppose she is not so prudent as she ought to 
be." Hamilton thought tlie last charge a little too severe; 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 189' 

and as lie was endeavouring to refute it : " Good God !" said 
my lord, " you see, as well as the whole court, what airs she 
gives herself: husbands are always the last people that are 
spoken to about those affairs that concern them the most ; but 
they are not always the last to perceive it themselves : though 
you have made me your confidant in other matters, yet I am 
not at all surprised you have concealed this from me ; but as 
I flatter myself with having some share in your esteem, I 
should be sorry you should think me such a fool as to be 
incapable of seeing, though I am so complaisant as not to 
express my sentiments : nevertheless, I find that affairs are now 
carried on with such barefaced boldness, that at length I find 
I shall be forced to take some course or other. God forbid that I 
should act the ridiculous part of a jealous husband: the character 
is odious ; but then I do not intend, through an excess of 
patience, to be made the jest of the town. Judge, therefore, 
from what I am going to tell you, whether I ought to sit down 
unconcerned, or whether I ought to take measures for the 
preservation of my honour. 

" His royal highness honoured me yesterday by a visit to my 
wife." Hamilton started at this beginning. "Yes," continued the 
other, " he did give himself that trouble, and Lord Arran took 
upon himself that of bringing him : do not you wonder, that 
a man of his birth should act such a part ? What advance- 
ment can he expect from one who employs him in such base 
services ? But we have long known him to be one of the 
silliest creatures in England, with his guitar, and his other 
whims and follies." Chesterfield, after this short sketch of his 
brother-in-law's merit, began to relate the observations he had 
made during the visit, and asked Hamilton what he thought 
of his cousin Arran, who had so obligingly left them together. 
" This may appear surprising to you," continued he, " but hear 



190 MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

me out, and judge whether I have reason to think that the 
close of this pretty visit passed in perfect innocence. Lady 
Chesterfield is amiable, it must be acknowledged ; but she is 
far from being such a miracle of beauty as she supposes her- 
seK : you know she has ugly feet ; but perhaps you are not 
acquainted that she has still worse legs." " Pardon me/' said 
Hamilton, within himself: and the other continuing the des- 
cription : " Her legs," said his lordship, " are short and thick ; 
and, to remedy these defects as much as possible, she seldom 
wears any other than green stockings." 

Hamilton could not for his life imagine the drift of all this 
discourse, and Chesterfield, guessing his thoughts : " Have a 
little patience," said he : "I went yesterday to Miss Stewart's, 
after the audience of those damned Muscovites : the king 
arrived there just before me ; and as if the duke had sworn to 
pursue me wherever I went that day, he came in just after 
me. The conversation turned upon the extraordinary appear- 
ance of the ambassadors. I know not where that fool Crofts 
had heard that all these Muscovites had handsome wives; and 
that all their wives had handsome legs. Upon this the king 
maintained that no woman ever had such handsome legs as 
Miss Stewart ; and she, to prove the truth of his majesty's as- 
sertion, with the greatest imaginable ease, immediately shewed 
her leg above the knee. Some were ready to prostrate them- 
selves, in order to adore its beauty ; for indeed none can be 
handsomer ; but the duke alone began to criticise upon it. He 
contended that it was too slender, and that as for himself he 
would give nothing for a leg that was not thicker and shorter, 
and concluded by saying that no leg was worth anything 
without green stockings. Now this, in my opinion, was a 
sufficient demonstration that he had just seen green stockings, 
and had them fresh in his remembrance." 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 191 

Hamilton was at a loss what countenance to put on during 
a narrative which raised in him nearly the same conjectures ; 
he shrugged up his shoulders, and faintly said that appear- 
ances were often deceitful; that Lady Chesterfield had the 
foible of all beauties, who place their merit on the number of 
their admirers ; and whatever airs she might imprudently have 
given herself, in order not to discourage his royal highness, 
there was no ground to suppose that she would indulge him 
in any greater liberties to engage him : but in vain was it 
that he endeavoured to give that consolation to his friend 
which he did not feel himself. Chesterfield plainly perceived 
he did not think of what he was saying ; however, he thought 
himself much obliged to him for the interest he seemed 
to take in his concerns. 

Hamilton was in haste to go home to vent his spleen and 
resentment in a letter to his cousin. The style of this billet 
was very different from those which he formerly was accus- 
tomed to write to her : reproaches, bitter expostulations, ten- 
derness, menaces, and all the effusions of a lover who thinks 
he has reason to complain, composed this epistle ; which, for 
fear of accidents, he went to deliver himseK. 

Never did she before appear so lovely, and never did 
her eyes speak so kindly to him as at this moment : his heart 
quite relented ; but he was determined not to lose all the fine 
things he had said in his letter. In receiving it, she squeezed 
his hand : this action completely disarmed him, and he would 
have given his life to have had his letter again. It appeared 
to him at this instant that all the gTievances he complained 
of were visionary and groundless : he looked upon her hus- 
band as a madman and an impostor, and quite the reverse of 
what he supposed him to be a few minutes before ; but this 
remorse came a little too late : he had delivered his billet. 



192 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

and Lady Chesterfield had shewn such impatience and eager- 
ness to read it as soon as she had got it that all circumstances 
seemed to conspire to justify her, and to confound him. She 
managed to get quit, some way or other, of some troublesome 
visitors, to slip into her closet. He thought himself so cul- 
pable that he had not the assurance to wait her return : he 
withdrew with the rest of the company ; but he did not dare 
to appear before her the next day, to have an answer to his- 
letter : however, he met her at court ; and this was the first 
time, since the commencement of their amour, that he did not 
seek for her. He stood at a distance, with downcast looks, 
and appeared in such terrible embarrassment that his condi- 
tion was sufficient to raise laughter or to cause pity, when 
Lady Chesterfield approaching, thus accosted liim: "Confess," 
said she, " that you are in as foolish a situation as any man of 
sense can be : you wish you had not written to me : you are 
desirous of an answer : you hope for none : yet you equally 
wish for and dread it : I have, however, wTitten you one." 
She had not time to say more ; but the few words she had 
spoken were accompanied with such an air, and such a look,. 
as to make him believe that it was Venus with all her graces 
who had addressed liim. He was near her when she sat down 
to cards, and as he was puzzling himself to devise by what 
means he should get tliis answer, she desired liim to lay her 
gloves and fan down somewhere : he took them, and with 
them the billet in question ; and as he had perceived nothing, 
severe or angry in the conversation he had with her, he has- 
tened to open her letter, and read as follows : 

" Your transports are so ridiculous that it is doing you a 
favour to attribute them to an excess of tenderness, which 
turns your head : a man, without doubt, must have a great 
inclination to be jealous, to entertain such an idea of the per- 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 193 

son you mention. Good God ! what a lover to have caused 
uneasiness to a man of genius, and what a genius to have got 
the better of mine ! Are not you ashamed to give any credit 
to the visions of a jealous fellow who brought nothing else 
with him from Italy ? Is it possible that the story of the 
green stockings, upon which he has founded his suspicions, 
should have imposed upon you, accompanied as it is with such 
pitiful circumstances ? Since he has made you his confidant, 
why did not he boast of breaking in pieces my poor harmless 
guitar ? This exploit, perhaps, might have convinced you 
more than aU the rest : recollect yourself, and if you are really 
in love with me, thank fortune for a groundless jealousy, 
which diverts to another quarter the attention he might pay 
to my attachment for the most amiable and the most danger- 
ous man of the court." 

Hamilton was ready to weep for joy at these endearing 
marks of kindness, of which he thought himself so unworthy : 
he was not satisfied with kissing, in raptures, every part of 
this billet ; he also kissed several times her gloves and her 
fan. Play being over. Lady Chesterfield received them from 
his hands, and read in his eyes the joy that her billet had 
raised in his heart. ISTor was he satisfied with expressing 
his raptures, only by looks : he hastened home, and wrote to 
her at least four times as much. How different was this 
letter from the other ! Though perhaps not so well written ; 
for one does not show so much wit in suing for pardon, as in 
venting reproaches, and it seldom happens that the soft lan- 
guishing style of a love-letter is so penetrating as that of 
invective. 

Be that as it may, his peace was made : their past quarrel 
gave new life to their correspondence ; and Lady Chesterfield, 
to make him^ as easy as he had before been distrustful, ex- 

13 



194 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

pressed on every occasion a feigned contempt for his rival, 
and a sincere aversion for her husband. 

So great was his confidence in her, that he consented she 
should show in public some marks of attention to the duke, 
in order to conceal as much as possible their private inteUi- 
gence. Thus, at this time nothing disturbed his peace of 
mind, but his impatience of finding a favourable opportunity 
for the completion of his desires : he thought it was in her 
power to command it ; but she excused herself on account of 
several difficulties which she enumerated to him, and which 
she was desirous he should remove by his industry and 
attentions. 

This silenced his complaints ; but whilst he was endeavour- 
ing to surmount these obstacles, still wondering how it was 
possible that two persons who were so well disposed to each 
other, and who were agreed to make each other happy, could 
not put their designs in execution, accident discovered an un- 
expected adventure, which left him no room to doubt, either 
of the happiness of his rival, or of the perfidy of his mistress. 

Misfortunes often fall light when most feared; and frequently 
prove heaviest when merited, and when least suspected. 
Hamilton was in the middle of the most tender and pas- 
sionate letter he had ever written to Lady Chesterfield, when 
her husband came to announce to him the particulars of this 
last discovery : he came so suddenly upon him., that he had 
only just time to conceal his amorous epistle among his other 
papers. His heart and mind were still so full of what he was 
writing to his cousin, that her husband's complaints against 
her, at first, were scarce attended to ; besides, in his opinion, he 
had come in the most unfortunate moment on all accounts. 

He was, however, obliged to listen to him, and he soon 
entertained quite different sentiments : he appeared almost 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 195 

petrified with astonishment, while the earl was relating to 
him circumstances of such an extravagant indiscretion, as 
seemed to him quite incredible, notwithstanding the par- 
ticulars of the fact. " You have reason to be surprised at it," 
said my lord, concluding his story ; " but if you doubt the truth 
of what I tell you, it will be easy for you to find evidence that 
will convince you ; for the scene of their tender familiarities 
was no less public than the room where the queen plays at 
cards, which, while her majesty was at play, was, God knows, 
pretty well crowded. Lady Denham was the first who dis- 
covered what they thought would pass unperceived in the crowd; 
and you may very well judge how secret she would keep such 
a circumstance. The truth is, she addressed herself to me 
first of all, as I entered the room, to tell me that I should give 
my wife a little advice, as other people might take notice of 
what I might see myself, if I pleased. 

" Your cousin was at play, as I before told you : the duke 
was sitting next to her : I know not what was become of his 
hand ; but I am sure that no one could see his arm below the 
elbow : I was standing behind them, just in the place that 
Lady Denham had quitted : the duke turning round perceived 
me, and was so much disturbed at my presence, that he 
almost undressed my lady in pulling away his hand. I know 
not whether they perceived that they were discovered ; but of 
this I am convinced, that Lady Denham will take care that 
everybody shall know it. I must confess to you, that my 
embarrassment is so great, that I cannot find words to ex- 
press what I now feel : I should not hesitate one moment 
what course to take, if I might be allowed to show my re- 
sentment against the person who has wronged me. As for her, 
I could manage her well enough, if, unworthy as she is of 
any consideration, I had not still some regard for an illus- 

13—2 



196 MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

trious family, that would be distracted were I to resent such 
an injury as it deserves. In this particular you are inte- 
rested yourself: you are my friend, and I make you my 
confidant in an affair of the greatest imaginable delicacy : let 
us then consult together what is proper to be done in so per- 
plexing and disagreeable a situation." 

Hamilton, if possible, more astonished, and more con- 
founded than himself, was far from being in a proper state 
to afford him advice on the present occasion : he listened to 
nothing but jealousy, and breathed nothing but revenge ; but 
these emotions being somewhat abated, in hopes that there 
might be calumny, or at least exaggeration in the charges 
against Lady Chesterfield, he desired her husband to suspend 
his resolutions, until he was more fully informed of the fact ; 
assuring him, however, that if he found the circumstances 
such as he had related, he should regard and consult no other 
interest than his. 

Upon this they parted ; and Hamilton found, on the first 
inquiry, that almost the whole court was informed of the 
adventure, to which every one added something in relating 
it. Vexation and resentment inflamed his heart, and by 
degrees extinguished every remnant of his former passion. 

He might easily have seen her, and have made her such 
reproaches as a man is generally inclined to do on such occa- 
sions ; but he was too much enraged to enter into any detail 
which might have led to an explanation : he considered him- 
self as the only person essentially injured in this affair ; for 
he could never bring his mind to think that the injuries of 
the husband could be placed in competition with those of the 
lover. 

He hastened to Lord Chesterfield, in the transport of his 
passion, and told him that he had heard enough to induce 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 197 

him to give such advice, as he should follow liimself in the 
same situation, and that if he wished to save a woman so 
strongly prepossessed, and who perhaps had not yet lost all 
her innocence, though she had totally lost her reason, he ought 
not to delay one single instant, l3ut immediately to carry her 
into the country with the greatest possible expedition, without 
allowing her the least time to recover her surprise. 

Lord Chesterfield readily agreed to follow this advice, which 
he had already considered as the only counsel a friend could 
give him ; but his lady who did not suspect he had made this 
last discovery of her conduct, thought he was joking with her, 
when he told her to prepare for going into the country in two 
days : she was the more induced to think so as it was in the 
very middle of an extremely severe winter ; but she soon per- 
ceived that he was in earnest: she knew from the air and 
manner of her husband that he thought he had sufficient 
reason to treat her in this imperious style ; and finding all her 
relations serious and cold to her complaint, she had no hope 
left in this universally abandoned situation but in the tender- 
ness of Hamilton. She imagined she should hear from him 
the cause of her misfortimes, of which she was still totally igno- 
rant, and that his love would invent some means or other to 
prevent a journey, which she flattered herself would be even 
more affecting to him than to herself; but she was expecting 
pity from a crocodile. 

At last, when she saw the eve of her departure was come, 
that every preparation was made for a long journey ; that she 
was receiving farewell visits in form, and that still she heard 
nothing from Hamilton, both her hopes and her patience for- 
sook her in this wretched situation. A few tears perhaps 
might have afforded her some relief, but she chose rather to 
deny herself that comfort, than to give her husband so much 



198 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

satisfaction. Hamilton's conduct on tliis occasion appeared 
to lier unaccountable ; and as lie still never came near lier, 
she found means to convey to liim the following billet, 

" Is it possible that you should be one of those, who, without 
vouchsafing to tell me for what crime I am treated like a 
slave, suffer me to be dragged from society ? Wliat means 
your silence and indolence in a juncture wherein your tendei- 
ness ought most particularly to appear, and actively exert itself ? 
I am upon the point of departing, and am ashamed to tliink 
that you are the cause of my looking upon it with horror, as 
I have reason to believe that you are less concerned at it than 
any other person : do, at least, let me know to what place I 
am to be dragged ; what is to be done with me witliin a wH- 
demess ? and on what account you, like all the rest of the 
world, appear changed in your behaviour towards a person 
whom all the world could not oblige to change with regard to 
you, if your weakness or your ingratitude did not render you 
unworthy of her tenderness." 

This billet did but harden his heart, and make him more 
proud of his vengeance : he swallowed down full draughts of 
pleasure in beholding her reduced to despair, being persuaded 
that her grief and regret for her departure were on account of 
another person: he felt uncommon satisfaction in having a 
share in tormenting her, and was particularly pleased with 
the scheme he had contrived to separate her from a rival, 
upon the very point perhaps of being made happy. Thus 
fortified as he was against his natural tenderness, with all the 
severity of jealous resentment, he saw her depart with an in- 
difference which he did not even endeavour to conceal from 
her : this unexpected treatment, joined to the complication of 
her other misfortunes, had almost in reality plunged her into 
despair. 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 199 

The court was filled with the story of this adventure ; 
nobody was ignorant of the occasion of this sudden departure, 
hut very few approved of Lord Chesterfield's conduct. In 
England they looked with astonishment upon a man who 
could be so uncivil as to be jealous of his wife ; and in the 
city of London it was a prodigy, till that time unknown, to 
see a husband have recourse to violent means, to prevent 
what jealousy fears, and what it always deserves. They en- 
deavoured, however, to excuse poor Lord Chesterfield, as far 
as they could safely do it, without incurring the public odium, 
by laying all the blame on his bad education. This made all 
the mothers vow to God that none of their sons should ever 
set a foot in Italy, lest they should bring back with them 
that infamous custom of laying restraint upon their wives. 

As this story for a long time took up the attention of the 
court, the Chevalier de Grammont, who was not thoroughly 
acquainted with all the particulars, inveighed more bitterly 
than all the citizens of London put together against this 
tyranny; and it was upon this occasion that he produced 
new words to that fatal saraband wliich had unfortunately so 
great a share in the adventure. The Chevalier passed for the 
author ; but if Saint Evremond had any part in the composi- 
tion, it certainly was greatly inferior to his other performances, 
as the reader will see in the following chapter. 



200 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 



CHAPTER IX. 

Every man who believes that his honour depends upon that 
of his wife is a fool who torments himself, and drives her to 
despair; but he who, being naturally jealous, has the ad- 
ditional misfortune of loving his wife, and who expects that 
she should only live for him, is a perfect madman, whom the 
torments of hell have actually taken hold of in this world, 
and whom nobody pities. All reasoning and observation on 
these unfortunate circumstances attending wedlock concur in 
this, that precaution is vain and useless before the evil, and 
revenge odious afterwards. 

The Spaniards, who tyrannize over their^ wives, more by 
custom than from jealousj^, content themselves with preserving 
the niceness of their honour by duennas, grates, and locks. 
The Italians, who are wary in their suspicions, and vindictive 
in their resentments, pursue a different line of conduct : some 
satisfy themselves with keeping their wives under locks which 
they think secure : others by ingenious precautions exceed 
whatever the Spaniards can invent for confining the fair sex ; 
but the generality are of opinion, that in either unavoidable 
danger or in manifest transgression, the surest way is to assas- 
sinate. 

But, ye courteous and indulgent nations, who, far from ad- 




o.F jii o c ill E t^ 'irs K 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 201 

mitting these savage and barbarous customs, give full liberty 
to your dear ribs, and commit the care of their virtue to their 
own discretion, you pass without alarms or strife your peace- 
ful days, in all the enjoyments of domestic indolence ! 

It was certainly some evil genius that induced Lord Ches- 
terfield to distinguish himself from his patient and good- 
natured countrymen, and ridiculously to afford the world an 
opportunity of examining into the particulars of an adventure 
which would perhaps never have been known without the 
verge of the court, and which would everywhere have been 
forgotten in less than a month ; but now, as soon as ever 
he had turned his back, in order to march away with his 
prisoner, and the ornaments she was supposed to have be- 
stowed upon him, God only knows what a terrible attack 
there was made upon his rear: Eochester,^ Middlesex,t Sed- 
ley,J Etheredge,§ and all the whole band of wits, exposed 

* John Wilmot, Earl of Eochester ; " a man,'' as Lord Orford ob- 
serves, " whom the Muses were fond to inspire, and ashamed to avow ; 
^nd who practised, without the least reserve, that secret which can 
make verses more read for their defects than for their merits ;" — Noble 
Authors, vol. ii., p. 43 ; — ^was born, according to Burnet and Wood, in 
the month of April, 1648 ; but Gadbury, in his almanack for 1695, 
fixes the date on April 1, 1647, from the information of Lord Eoches- 
ter himself. His father was Henry, Earl of Eochester, better known 
by the title of Lord Wilmot. He was educated at Wadham College, 
Oxford, and, in 1665, went to sea with the Earl of Sandwich, and dis- 
played a degree of valour which he never showed at any period after- 
wards. Bishop Burnet says, he " was naturally modest, till the court 
corrupted him. His wit had in it a peculiar brightness, to which none 
could ever arrive . He gave himself up to all sorts of extravagance, 
and to the wildest frolics that a wanton wit could devise. He would 
have gone about the streets as a beggar, and made love as a porter. 
He set up a stage as an Italian mountebank. He was for some years 
always dnmk ; and was ever doing some mischief. The king loved his 
company, for the diversion it afforded, better than his person ; and 
there was no love lost between them. He took his revenges in many 



202 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

him in numberless ballads, and diverted the public at his 
expense. 

libels. He found out a footmen that knew all tlie court ; and he fur- 
nished him with a red coat and a musquet, as a sentinel, and kept him 
all the winter long, every night, at the doors of such ladies as he be- 
lieved might be in intrigues. In the court, a sentinel is little minded^ 
and is believed to be posted by a captain of the guards to hinder a 
combat ; so this man saw who walked about and visited at forbidden 
hours. By this means Lord Rochester made many discoveries ; and 
when he was well furnished with materials, he used to retire into the 
country, for a month or two, to write libels. Once, being drunk, he 
intended to give the king a libel that he had written on some ladies ; 
but, by a mistake, he gave him one written on himself. He fell into 
an ill habit of body, and, in set fits of sickness, he had deep remorses ; 
for he was guilty both of much impiety and of great immoralities. 
But as he recovered, he threw these ofi", and turned again to his for- 
mer ill courses. In the last year of his life, I was much with him, and 
have written a book of what passed between him and me : I do verily 
believe, he was then so changed, that, if he had recovered, he would 
have made good all his resolutions." — History of his own Times, vol. 
i. p. 372. On this book, mentioned by the bishop. Dr. Johnson pro- 
nounces the following eulogium : — that it is one " which the critic 
ought to read for its elegance, the philosopher for its arguments, and 
the saint for its piety. It were an injury to the reader to offer him an 
abridgement."— X^/e of Rochester. Lord Eochester died July 26, 1680. 
t At this time the Earl of Middlesex was Lionel, who died in 1674. 
The person intended by our author was, Charles, then Lord Buckhurst, 
afterwards Earl of Middlesex, and, lastly, Duke of Dorset. He was 
born January 24th, 1637. Bishop Burnet says, he " was a generous, 
good-natured man. He was so oppressed with phlegm, that, till he 
was a little heated with wine, he scarce ever spoke ; but he was, upon 
that exaltation, a very lively man. Never was so much ill-nature in a 
pen as in his, joined with so much good-nature as was in himself, even 
to excess ; for he was against all punishing, even of malefactors. He 
was bountiful, even to run himself into difficulties, and charitable to a 
fault ; for he commonly gave all he had about him when he met an 
object that moved him. But he was so lazy, that, though the king- 
seemed to court him to be a favourite, he would not give himself the 
trouble that belonged to that post. He hated the court, and despised 




M.Jcriven. X 



IC-AitAX, ():K 1) n3<.^iK.nr, 



:i 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRMIMONT. 20^ 

The Chevalier de Grammont was highly pleased with these 
lively and humorous compositions ; and wherever tliis subject 
was mentioned, never failed to produce his supplement upon 
the occasion : "It is strange," said he, " that the country, which 
is little better than a gallows or a grave for young people, is 
allotted in this land only for the unfortunate, and not for the 
guilty I poor Lady Chesterfield, for some unguarded looks, is 



the king, when he saw he was neither generous nor tender-hearted." — 
History of his ovm Times, vol. i., p. 370. Lord Orford says of him, 
that "he was the finest gentleman of the voliiptiious court of Charles 
the Second, and in the gloomy one of King William. He had as much 
wit' as his first master, or his contemporaries, Buckingham and Roches- 
ter, without the royal want of feeling, the duke's want of principles, 
or the earl's want of thought. The latter said, with astonishment, ' that 
he did not know how it was, but Loi'd Dorset might do anything, and 
yet was never to blame.' It was not that he was free from the failings 
of humanity, but he had the tenderness of it too, which made every- 
body excuse whom everybody loved ; for even the asperity of his verses 
seems to have been forgiven to 

The best good man, with' the worst-natured muse." 

Noble Authors, vol. ii., p. 96. Lord Dorset died January 19, 1705-6. 

% Sir Charles Sedley was born about the year 1639, and was educated 
at Wadham College, Oxford. He ran into all the excesses of the times 
in which he lived. Burnet says, " Sedley had a more sudden and coj)ious 
wit, which furnished a perpetual run of discourse ; but he was not so 
correct as Lord Dorset, nor so sparkling as Lord Rochester." — History 
of his Own Times, vol. i., p. 372. He afterwards took a more serious 
turn, and was active against the reigning family at the Revolution ; to 
which he was probably urged by the dishonour brought upon his 
daughter, created Countess of Dorchester by King James II. Lord 
Rochester's lines on his powers of seduction are well known. He died 
20th August, 1701. 

§ Sir George Etheridge, author of three comedies, was born about 
the year 1636. He was, in James the Second's reign, employed abroad f 
first as envoy to Hamburgh, and afterwards as minister at Eatisbon,. 
where he died, about the time of the Revolution, 



204: MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

immediately seized upon by an angry husband, who will oblige 
her to spend her Christmas at a comitry-honse, a hundred and 
fifty miles from London; while here there are a thousand 
ladies who are left at liberty to do whatever they please, and 
who indulge in that liberty, andwhose conduct, in short, deserves 
a daily bastinado. I name no person, God forbid I should ; 
but Lady Middleton, Lady Denham, the queen's and the 
duchess's maids of honour, and a hundred others, bestow their 
favours to the right and to the left, and not the least notice is 
taken of their conduct. As for Lady Shrewsbury, she is con- 
spicuous. I would take a wager she might have a man killed 
for her every day, and she would only hold her head the higher 
for it : one would suppose she imported from Eome plenary 
indulgences for her conduct : there are three or four gentlemen 
who wear an ounce of her hair made into bracelets, and no 
person finds any fault ; and yet shall such a cross-grained fool 
as Chesterfield be permitted to exercise an act of tyranny, al- 
together unknown in this country, upon the prettiest woman 
in England, and all for a mere trifle : but I am his humble 
servant ; his precautions will avail him nothing ; on the con- 
trary, very often a woman, who had no bad intentions when 
she was suffered to remain in tranquillity, is prompted to such 
conduct by revenge, or reduced to it by necessity : this is as 
true as the gospel : hear now what Francisco's saraband says 
on the subject : 

" Tell me, jealous-pated swain, 

What avail thy idle arts, 

To divide united hearts ? 

Love, like the wind, I trow. 

Will, where it listeth, blow ; 
So, prithee, peace, for all thy cares are vain. 




siTi tz^t;,e]r ilei.t 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT, 205 

" When you are by, 
Nor wisMul look, be sure, nor eloquent sigh, 
Shall dare those inward fires discover, 
Which burn in either lover : 
Yet Argus' self, if Argus were thy spy. 
Should ne'er, with all his mob of eyes, 
Surprise. 

"Some joys forbidden, 
Transports hidden, 
Which love, through dark and secret ways. 
Mysterious love, to kindred souls conveys." 

The Clievalier de Grammont passed for the author of this 
sonnet : neither the justness of the sentiment, nor turn of it, 
are surprisingly beautiful ; but as it contained some truths that 
flattered the genius of the nation, and pleased those who in- 
terested themselves for the fair sex, the ladies were all desirous 
of having it to teach their children. 

During all this time the Duke of York, not being in the 
way of seeing Lady Chesterfield, easily forgot her : her absence, 
however, had some circumstances attending it which could not 
but sensibly affect the person who had occasioned her confine- 
ment ; but there are certain fortunate tempers to which every 
situation is easy ; they feel neither disappointment with ]:)it- 
terness, nor pleasure with acuteness. In the mean time, as the 
duke could not remain idle, he had no sooner forgotten Lady 
Chesterfield, but he began to think of her whom he had been 
in love with before, and was upon the point of relapsing into 
his old passion for Miss Hamilton. 

There was in London a celebrated portrait-painter called 
Lely,* who had gTeatly improved himself by stud}dng the 

* Sir Peter Lely was born at Soest, in Westphalia, 1617, and came to 
England in 1641. Lord Orford observes, " If Vandyke's portraits are 
often tame and spiritless, at least they are natural: his laboured draperies 



206 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

famous Vandyke's pictures, whicli were dispersed all over 
England in abundance. Lely imitated Vandyke's manner, 
and approached the nearest to him of all the moderns. The 
Duchess of York, being desirous of having the portraits of the 
handsomest persons at court, Lely painted them, and employed 
all his skill in the performance ; nor could he ever exert him- 
self upon more beautiful subjects. Every picture appeared a 
master-piece ; and that of Miss Hamilton appeared the highest 
finished: Lely himself acknowledged that he had drawn it 
with a particular pleasure. The Duke of York took a delight 
in looking at it, and began again to ogle the original : he had 
very little reason to hope for success ; and at the same time 
that his hopeless passion alarmed the Chevalier de Grammont, 
Lady Denham thought proper to renew the negotiation which 
had so unluckily been interrupted: it was soon brought to a 
conclusion ; for where both parties are sincere in a negotiation, 
no time is lost in cavilling. Everything succeeded prosper- 



ilow witli ease, and not a fold but is placed with propriety. Lely supplied 
the want of taste with clinquant : his nymphs trail fringes and em- 
broidery through meadows and purling streams. Add, that Vandyke's 
habits are those of the times ; Lely's a sort of fantastic night-gowns, 
fastened with a single pin. The latter was, in truth, the ladies' painter; 
and whether the age was improved in beauty or in flattery, Lely's 
women are certainly much handsomer than those of Vandyke. They 
please as much more as they evidently meant to please. He caught 
the reigning character, and 

« QJ2 the animated canvas stole 



The sleepy eye, that spoke the melting soul.' 

I do not know whether, even in softness of the flesh, he did not excel 
his predecessor. The beauties at Windsor are the court of Paphos, and 
ought to be engraved for the memoirs of its charming biographer. Count 
Hamilton." — Anecdotes of Painting, vol. iii., p. 27. Sir Peter Lely died 
1680, and was buried in St. Paul's, Covent Garden. 




,rir^dJVim3yck I. 



^iim AJTT]iii;i])^ir "^.Ar^ioirrE: 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 207 

'Ously on one side ; yet, I know not what fatality obstructed 
the pretensions of the other. The duke was very urgent with 
the duchess to put Lady Denham in possession of the place 
which was the object of her ambition ; but as she was not 
guarantee for the performance of the secret articles of the 
treaty, though till this time she had borne with patience the 
inconstancy of the duke, and yielded submissively to his 
desires ; yet, in the present instance, it appeared hard and dis- 
honourable to her, to entertain ^near her person, a rival, who 
would expose her to the danger of acting but a second part in 
the midst of her own court. However, she saw herself upon 
the point of being forced to it by authority, when a far more 
unfortunate obstacle for ever bereft poor Lady Denham of the 
hopes of possessing that fatal place, which she had solicited 
with such eagerness. 

Old Denham, naturally jealous, became more and more sus- 
picious, and found that he had sufficient ground for such con- 
duct : his wife was young and handsome, he old and disagree- 
able : what reason then had he to flatter himself that Heaven 
would exempt him from the fate of husbands in the like cir- 
cumstances ? This he was continually saying to himself ; but 
when compliments were poured in upon him from all sides, 
upon the place his lady was going to have near the duchess's 
person, he formed ideas of what was sufficient to have made 
him hang himself, if he had possessed the resolution. The 
traitor chose rather to exercise his courage against another. 
He wanted precedents for putting in practice his resentments 
in a privileged country : that of Lord Chesterfield was not suf- 
ficiently bitter for the revenge he meditated : besides, he had 
no country-house to which he could carry his unfortunate wife. 
This being the case, the old villain made her travel a much 
longer journey without stirring out of London. Merciless fate 



208 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

robbed her of life,* and of her dearest hopes, in the bloom of 
youth. 

As no person entertained any doubt of his having poisoned 
her, the populace of his neighbourhood had a design of tear- 
ing him in pieces," as soon as he should come abroad ; but he 
shut himself up to bewail her death, until their fury was ap- 
peased by a magnificent funeral, at which he distributed four 
times more burnt wine than had ever been drunk at any burial 
in England. 

While the town was in fear of some great disaster, as an 
expiation for these fatal effects of jealousy, Hamilton was not 
altogether so easy as he flattered himself he should be after 
the departure of Lady Chesterfield : he had only consulted the 
dictates of revenge in what he had done. His vengeance was 
satisfied ; but such was far from being the case with his love ; 
and having, since the absence of her he still admired, notwith- 
standing his resentments, leisure to make those reflections 
which a recent injury will not permit a man to attend to r 
" And wherefore," said he to himself, " was I so eager to make 
her miserable, who alone, however culpable she may be, has it 
in her power to make me happy ? Cursed jealousy !" con- 
tinued he, " yet more cruel to those who torment than to those 
who are tormented ! What have I gained by having blasted 
the hopes of a more happy rival, since I was not able to per- 
form this without depriving myself, at the same time, of her 
upon whom the whole happiness and comfort of my life was 
centred." 

Thus, clearly proving to himself, by a great many reasonings 

* The lampoons of the day, some of which are to be found in Andrew 
Marvell's Works, more than insinuate that she was deprived of life by a 
mixture Infused into some chocolate. The slander of the times imputed 
her death to the jealousy of the Duchess of York. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 209 

of the same kind, and all out of season, that in such an en- 
gagement it was much better to partake with another than to 
have nothing at all, he filled his mind with a number of vain 
regrets and unprofitable remorse, when he received a letter 
from her who occasioned them, but a letter so exactly adapted 
to increase them, that, after he had read it, he looked upon 
himself as the greatest scoundrel in the world. Here it fol- 
lows : 

" You will, no doubt, be as much surprised at this letter as 
I was at the unconcerned air with which you beheld my de- 
parture. I am led to believe that you had imagined reasons 
which, in your own mind, justified such unseasonable conduct. 
If you are still under the impression of such barbarous senti- 
ments it will afford you pleasure to be made acquainted with 
what I suffer in the most horrible of prisons. Whatever the 
country affords most melancholy in this season presents itself 
to my view on all sides : surrounded by impassable roads, 
out of one window I see nothing but rocks, out of another 
nothing but precipices ; but wherever I turn my eyes within 
doors I meet those of a jealous husband, still more insupport- 
able than the sad objects that encompass me. I should add 
to the misfortunes of my life that of seeming criminal in the 
eyes of a ma^ who ought to have justified me, even against 
convincing appearances, if by my avowed innocence I had a 
right to complain or to expostulate : but how is it possible for 
me to justify myself at such a distance ; and how can I flat- 
ter myseK that the description of a most dreadful prison will 
not prevent you from believing me ? But do you deserve 
that I should wish you did ? Heavens ! how I must hate 
you, if I did not love you to distraction. Come, therefore, 
and let me once again see you, that you may hear my justifi- 
cation ; and I am convinced that if after this visit you find me 

14 



210 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

guilty it will not be with respect to yourself. Our Argus sets 
out to-morrow for Chester, where a law-suit will detain him a 
week. I know not whether he will gain it ; but I am sure it 
will be entirely your fault if he does not lose one, for which 
he is at least as anxious as that he is now goino; after." 

This letter was sufficient to make a man run blindfold into 
an adventure still more rash than that which was proposed to 
him, and that was rash enough in all respects : he could not 
perceive by what means she could justify herself; but as she 
assured him he should be satisfied with his journey, this was 
all he desired at present. 

There was one of his relatians with Lady Chesterfield, who, 
having accompanied her in her exile, had gained some share 
in their mutual confidence ; and it was through her means he 
received this letter, with all the necessary instructions about 
his journey and his arrival. Secrecy being the soul of such 
expeditions, especially before an amour is accomplished, he 
took ]Dost, and set out in the night, animated by the most 
tender and flattering wishes, so that, in less than no time 
almost, in comparison with the distance and the badness of 
the roads, he had travelled a hundred and fifty tedious miles : 
at the last stage he prudently dismissed the post-boy. It was 
not yet daylight, and therefore, for fear of the rocks and pre- 
cipices mentioned in her letter, he proceeded with tolerable 
discretion, considering he was in love. 

By this means he fortunately escaped all the dangerous 
places, and, according to his instructions, alighted at a little 
hut adjoining to the park wall. The place was not magnifi- 
cent; but, as he only wanted rest, it did well enough for that: 
he did not wish for daylight, and was even still less desirous 
of being seen ; wherefore, having shut himself up in this ob- 
scure retreat, he fell into a profound sleep, and did not wake . 



i 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 211 

until noon. As he was particularly hungry when he awoke, 
he ate and drank heartily : and, as he was the neatest man at 
court, and was expected by the neatest lady in England, he 
spent the remainder of the day in dressing himself, and in 
making all those prejDarations which the time and place per- 
mitted, without deigning once to look around him, or to ask 
his landlord a single question. At last the orders he expected 
with gTeat impatience were brought him, in the beginning of 
the evening, by a servant, who, attending him as a guide, after 
having led him for about half an hour in the dirt, through a 
park of vast extent, brought him at last into a garden, into 
which a little door opened : he was posted exactly opposite to 
this door, by which, in a short time, he was to be introduced 
to a more agreeable situation ; and here his conductor left 
him. The night advanced, but the door never opened. 

Though the winter was almost over, the cold weather seemed 
only to be beginning : he was dirtied up to his knees in mud, 
and soon perceived that if he continued much longer in this 
garden it would all be frozen. This beginning of a very dark 
and bitter night would have been unbearable to any other ; 
but it was nothing to a man who flattered himself to pass the 
remainder of it in the height of bliss. However, he began to 
wonder at so many precautions in the absence of a husband : 
his imagination, by a thousand delicious and tender ideas, 
supported him some time against the torments of impatience 
and the inclemency of the weather ; but he felt his imagina- 
tion, notwithstanding, cooling by degrees; and two hours, 
which seemed to him as tedious as two whole ages, having 
passed, and not the least notice being taken of him, either 
from the door or from the window, he began to reason with 
himself upon the posture of his affairs, and what was the fit- 
test conduct for him to pursue in this emergency : " What if 

14—2 



212 MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

I should rap at this cursed door," said he ; " for if my fate re- 
quires that I should perish, it is at least more honourable to 
die in the house than to be starved to death in the garden : 
but then," continued he, " I may, thereby, perhaps, expose a 
person whom some unforeseen accident may, at this very in- 
stant, have reduced to greater perplexity than even I myself 
am in." This thought supplied him with a necessary degTee 
of patience and fortitude against the enemies he had to con- 
tend with ; he therefore began to walk quickly to and fro, 
with resolution to wait, as long as he could keep alive, the 
end of an adventure which had such an uncomfortable begin- 
ning. All this was to no purpose ; for though he used every 
effort to keep himself warm, and though muffled up in a thick 
cloak, yet he began to be benumbed in all his limbs, and the 
cold gained the ascendancy over all his amorous vivacity and 
eagerness. Daybreak was not far off", and judging now that, 
though the accursed door should even be opened, it would be 
to no purpose, he returned, as well as he could, to the place 
from whence he had set out upon this wonderful expedition. 

All the faggots that were in the cottage were hardly able to 
unfreeze him : the more he reflected on his adventure, the 
circumstances attending it appeared still the more strange and 
unaccountable ; but so far from accusing the charming coun- 
tess, he suffered a thousand different anxieties on her account. 
■Sometimes he imagined that her husband might have returned 
unexpectedly ; sometimes, that she might suddenly have been 
taken ill; in short, that some insuperable obstacle had unlucldly 
interposed, and prevented his happiness, notwithstanding his 
mistress's kind intentions towards him. " But wherefore/' said 
he, " did she forget me in that cursed garden ? Is it possible 
that she could not find a single moment to make me at least 
some sign or other, if she could neither speak to me nor give 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT, 213 

me admittance V He knew not which of these conjectures to 
rely upon, or how to answer his own questions ; but as he flat- 
tered himself that everything would succeed better the next 
night, after having vowed not to set a foot again into that 
unfortunate garden, he gave orders to be awakened as soon as 
any person should inquire for him : then he laid himself down 
in one of the worst beds in the world, and slept as sound as 
if he had been in the best : he supposed that he should not be 
awakened, but either by a letter or a message from Lady Ches- 
terfield ; but he had scarce slept two hours when he was roused 
by the sound of the horn and the cry of the hounds. The hut 
which afforded him a retreat, joining, as we before said, to the 
park wall, he called his host, to know what was the occasion 
of that hunting, which made a noise as if the whole pack of 
hounds had been in his bed-chamber. He was told that it was 
my lord hunting a hare in his park. " What lord ?" said he, 
in great surprise. " The Earl of Chesterfield," replied the pea- 
sant. He was so astonished at this that at first he hid his 
head under the bed-clothes, under the idea that he already 
saw him entering with all his hounds ; but as soon as he had 
a little recovered himself he began to curse capricious for- 
tune, no longer doubting but this jealous fool's return had 
occasioned all his tribulations in the preceding night. 

It was not possible for him to sleep again, after such an 
alarm ; he therefore got up, that he might revolve in his mind 
all the stratagems that are usually employed either to deceive, 
or to remove out of the way, a jealous scoundrel of a husband, 
who thought fit to neglect his law-suit in order to plague his 
wife. He had just finished dressing himself, and was begin- 
ning to question his landlord, when the same servant who had 
conducted him to the garden delivered him a letter, and disap- 
peared, without waiting for an answer. This letter was from 
his relation, and was to this effect : 



214 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

" I am extremely sorry that I have innocently been acces- 
sary to bringing yon to a place, to which you were only in- 
vited to be laughed at : I opposed this journey at first, though 
I was then persuaded it was wholly suggested by her tender- 
ness ; but she has now undeceived me : she triumphs in the 
trick she has played you : her husband has not stirred from 
hence, but stays at home, out of complaisance to her : he 
treats her in the most affectionate manner ; and it was upon 
their reconciliation that she found out that you had advised 
him to carry her into the country. She has conceived such 
hatred and aversion against you for it, that I find, from her 
discourse, she has not yet wholly satisfied her resentment. 
Console yourself for the hatred of a person, whose heart never 
merited your tenderness. Eeturn : a longer stay in this 
place will but draw upon you some fresh misfortune : for my 
part, I shall soon leave her : I know her, and I thank God 
for it. I do not repent having pitied her at first ; but I am 
disgusted with an employment which but ill agrees with my 
way of thinking." 

Upon reading this letter, astonishment, shame, hatred, and 
rage, seized at once upon his heart : then menaces, invectives, 
and the desire of vengeance, broke forth by turns, and ex- 
cited his passion and resentment ; but, after he deliberately 
considered the matter, he resolved that it was now the best 
way quietly to mount his horse, and to carry back with him 
to London a severe cold, instead of the soft wishes and tender 
desires he had brought from thence. He quitted this perfi- 
dious place with much greater expedition than he had arrived 
at it, though his mind was far from being occupied with such 
tender and agreeable ideas : however, when he thought him- 
self at a sufficient distance to be out of danger of meeting 
Lord Chesterfield and his hounds, he chose to look back, that 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 215 

lie might at least have the satisfaction of seeing the prison 
where tliis wicked enchantress was confined ; but what was 
his surprise, when he saw a very fine house, situated on the 
banks of a river, in the most delightful and pleasant country- 
imaginable * Neither rock nor precipiceVas here to be seen ; 
for, in reality, they were only in the letter of his perfidious 
mistress. This furnished fresh cause for resentment and con- 
fusion to a man who thought himself so well acquainted with 
all the wiles, as well as weaknesses, of the fair sex ; and who 
now found himself the dupe of a coquette, who was reconciled 
to her husband in order to be revenged on her lover. 

At last he reached London, well furnished with arguments 
to maintain that a man must be extremely weak to trust to 
the tenderness of a woman who has once deceived him, but 
that he must be a complete fool to run after her. 

This adventure not being much to his credit, he suppressed, 
as much as possible, both the journey and the circumstances 
attending it ; but, as we may easily suppose, Lady Chester- 

* This was Bretby, in the county of Derby. A late traveller has the 
following reflections on this place : — " Moving back again a few miles 
to the west, we trace, with sad reflection, the melancholy ruins and 
destructions of what was once the boasted beauty of the lovely country, 
viz. Bretby, the ancient seat of the Earls of Chesterfield. Nothing 
scarce is left of that former grandeur, those shades, those sylvan scenes 
that everywhere graced the most charming of all parks : the baneful 
hand of luxury hath, with rude violence, laid them waste. About 
ten years ago, the venerable and lofty pile was standing, and exhibited 
delightful magnificence to its frequent visitors : its painted roofs and 
walls, besides a large collection of pictures, afforded much entertainment 
to the fond admirer of antique beauties ; and the whole stood as a lasting 
monument of fame and credit to its lordly owner. — Would they were 
standing now ! but that thought is vain : — not only each surrounding 
monument, but the very stones themselves, have been converted to th 
purpose of filthy lucre." — Tour in Vi&I,from London to the Western 
Islands of Scotland^ 12mo., p. 29. 



216 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

field made no secret of it, tlie king came to the knowledge of 
it : and, having complimented Hamilton upon it, desired to 
be informed of all the particulars of the expedition. The 
Chevalier de Grammont happened to be present at this recital; 
and, having gently inveighed against the treacherous manner 
in which he had been used, said : " If she is to be blamed for 
carrying the jest so far, you are no less to be blamed for 
coming back so suddenly, like an ignorant novice. I dare lay 
an hundred guineas, she has more than once repented of a 
resentment which you pretty well deserved for the trick you 
had played her : women love revenge ; but their resentments 
seldom last long ; and if you had remained in the neighbour- 
hood till the next day, I will be hanged if she would not have 
given you satisfaction for the first night's sufferings." Hamil- 
ton being of a different opinion, the Chevalier de Grammont 
resolved to maintain his assertion by a case in point ; and, 
addressing himself to the king : " Sir," said he, " your majesty 
I suppose, must have known Marion de I'Orme, the most 
charming creature in all Trance : though she was as witty as 
an angel, she was as capricious as a devil. This beauty ha^dng 
made me an appointment, a whim seized her to put me off 
and to give it to another; she therefore wrote me one of the 
tenderest billets in the world, full of the grief and sorrow she 
w^as in, by being obliged to disappoint me, on account of a 
most terrible headache, that obliged her to keep her bed, and 
deprived her of the pleasure of seeing me till the next da}'. 
This headache coming all of a sudden, appeared to me very 
suspicious ; and, never doubting but it was her intention to 
jilt me: 'Very well, mistress coquette,' said I to myseK, 'if you 
do not enjoy the pleasure of seeing me this day, you shall not 
enjoy the satisfaction of seeing another.' 

" Hereupon, I detached all my servants, some of whom pa- 



MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 217 

trolled about her house, whilst others watched her door one 
of the latter brought me intelligence that no person had gone 
into her house all the afternoon ; but that a foot-boy had gone 
out as it grew dark ; that he followed him as far as the Eue 
Saint Antoine, where this boy met another, to whom he only 
spoke two or three words. This was sufficient to confirm my 
suspicions, and make me resolve either to make one of the 
party, or to disconcert it. 

" As the bagnio where I lodged was at a great distance from 
the Marais, as soon as the night set in I mounted my horse, 
without any attendant. When I came to the Place-Eoyale,. 
the servant, who was sentry there, assured me that no person 
was yet gone into Mademoiselle de I'Orme's* house : I rode 
forward towards the Kue Saint Antoine ; and, just as I was 
going out of the Place-Eoyale, I saw a man on foot coming 
into it, who avoided me as much as he possibly could ; but his 
endeavour was all to no purpose ; I knew him to be the Duke 
de Brissac, and I no longer doubted but he was my rival that 
night : I then approached towards him, seeming as if I feared 
I mistook my man; and, alighting with a very busy air: 
' Brissac, my friend,' said I, ' you must do me a service of the 
very greatest importance : I have an appomtment, for the first 
time, with a girl who lives very near this place ; and, as this 
visit is only to concert measures, I shall make but a very short 
stay : be so kind, therefore, as to lend me your cloak, and walk 
my horse about a little, until I return ; but, above all, do not 
go far from this place : you see that I use you freely like a 

* Marion de I'Orme, born at Chalons, in Champagne, was esteemed 
the most beautiful woman of her times. It is believed that she was 
secretly married to the unfortunate Monsieur Cinqmars. After his 
death, she became the mistress of Cardinal Eichelieu, and, at last, of 
Monsieur d'Emery, superintendent of the finances. 



218 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

friend ; but you know it is upon condition that you may take 
the same liberty with me.' I took his cloak, without waiting 
for his answer, and he took my horse by the bridle, and fol- 
lowed me with his eye ; but he gained no intelligence by this; 
for, after having pretended to go into a house opposite to him, 
I slipped under the piazzas to Mademoiselle de I'Orme's, where 
the door was opened as soon as I knocked. I was so much muffled 
up in Brissac's cloak that I was taken for him : the door was 
immediately shut, not the least question asked me ; and having 
none to ask myself I went straight to the lady's chamber. I 
found her upon a couch in the most agreeable and genteelest 
deshabille imaginable: she never in her life looked so handsome, 
nor was so greatly surprised ; and, seeing her speechless and 
confounded : ' What is the matter, my fair one V said I, ' me- 
thinks this is a headache very elegantly set off ; but your 
headache, to all appearance, is now gone V ' Not in the least,' 
said she, ' I can scarce support it, and you will oblige me in 
going away that I may go to bed.' ' As for your going to bed, 
to that I have not the least objection,' said I, ' but as for my 
going away, that cannot be, my little princess : the Chevalier de 
Grammont is no fool ; a woman does not dress herself with so 
much care for nothing.' ' You will find, however,' said she, 
* that it is for nothing ; for you may depend upon it that you 
shall be no gainer by it.' ' What !' said I, ' after having made 
me an appointment !' ' Well,' replied she hastily, ' though I 
had made you fifty, it stiU depends upon me, whether I chose 
to keep them or not, and you must submit if I do not.' ' This 
might do very well,' said I, ' if it was not to give it to another.' 
Mademoiselle de I'Orme, as haughty as a woman of the greatest 
virtue, and as passionate as one who has the least, was irritated 
at a suspicion which gave her more concern than confusion; 
and seeing that she was beginning to put herseK in a passion: 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 219 

* Madam/ said I, ' pray do not talk in so high a strain ; I know 
what perplexes you : you are afraid lest Brissac should meet 
me here ; but you may make yourself easy on that account: I 
met him not far from this place, and God knows that I have 
so managed the affair as to prevent his visiting you soon.' 
Having spoken these words in a tone somewhat tragical, she 
appeared concerned at first, and, looking upon me with sur- 
prise : ' What do you mean about the Duke de Brissac V said 
she. ' I mean,* replied I, ' that he is at the end of the street, 
walking my horse about ; but, if you will not believe me, send 
one of your own servants thither, or look at his cloak which I 
left in your ante-chamber.' Upon this she burst into a fit of 
laughter, in the midst of her astonishment, and, throwing her 
arms around my neck, ' My dear Chevalier,' said she, 'I can hold 
out no longer ; you are too amiable and too eccentric not to be 
pardoned.' I then told her the whole story : she was ready to 
die with laughing ; and, parting very good friends, she assured 
me my rival might exercise horses as long as he pleased, but 
that he should not set his foot within her doors that night. 

" I found the duke exactly in the place where I had left 
him : I asked him a thousand pardons for having made him 
wait so long, and thanked him a thousand times for his com- 
plaisance. He told me I jested, that such compliments were 
unusual among friends ; and to convince me that he had cor- 
dially rendered me this piece of service, he would, by all means, 
hold my horse while I was mounting. I returned him his 
cloak, bade him good night, and went back to my lodgings, 
equally satisfied with my mistress and my rival. This," con- 
tinued he, " proves that a little patience and address are suffi- 
cient to disarm the anger of the fair, to turn even their tricks 
to a man's advantage." 

It was in vain that the Chevalier de Grammont diverted the 



220 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT, 

court with Ms stories, instructed by his example, and never 
appeared there but to inspire universal joy ; for a long time 
he was the only foreigner in fashion. Fortune, jealous of the 
justice which is done to merit, and desirous of seeing all human 
happiness depend on her caprice, raised up against him two 
competitors for the pleasure he had long enjoyed of entertaining 
the English court ; and these competitors were so much the 
more dangerous, as the reputation of their several merits had 
preceded their arrival, in order to dispose the suffrages of the 
court in their favour. 

They came to display, in their own persons, whatever wa& 
the most accomplished either among the men of the sword, or 
of the gown. The one was the Marquis de Flamarens,"^ the sad 
object of the sad elegies of the Countess de la Suse,-)- the other 
was the president Tambonneau, the most humble and most 
obedient servant and admirer of the beauteous Luynes. As 
they arrived together, they exerted every endeavour to shine 

*A Monsieur Flamarm, but whether the same person as here described 
cannot be exactly ascertained, is mentioned, in Sydney's Letters, to 
have been in England at a later period than is comprehended in these 
Memoirs. " Monsieur de Flamarin hath been received at Windsor as 
seriously as if it had been believed the Queen of Spain's marriage should 
not hold unless it were here approved ; and the formalities that are 
usual with men of business having been observed to him, he is grown to 
think he is so." — Sydney^s WorJcs^ p. 94. 

t This lady was the daughter of Gaspar de Coligni, marshal of France, 
and was celebrated iij her time for her wit and her elegies. She was 
one of the few women with whom Christina, Queen of Sweden, con- 
descended to become intimate. Though educated a protestant, she 
embraced the Eoman catholic religion, less from a motive of devotion, 
than to have a pretence for parting from her husband, who was a pro- 
testant, and for whom she had an invincible abhorrence ; which occa- 
sioned the queen to say, " The Countess of Suse became a catholic, that 
she might neither meet her husband in this world nor the next." — See- 
Lacomhe's Life of Queen Christina. The Countess died in 1673. 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 221 

in concert : their talents were as different as their persons ; 
Tambonneau,^ who was tolerably ugly, founded his hopes upon 
a great store of wit, which, however, no person in England 
could jfind out; and Flamarens, by his air and mien, courted 
admiration, which was flatly denied him. 

They had agreed mutually to assist each other, in order to 
succeed in their intentions ; and therefore, in their first visits, 
the one appeared in state, and the other was the spokesman. 
But they found the ladies in England of a far different taste 
from those who had rendered them famous in France : the 
rhetoric of the one had no effect on the fair sex, and the fine 
mien of the other distinguished him only in a minuet, which 
he first introduced into England, and which he danced with 
tolerable success. The English court had been too long ac- 
customed to the solid wit of Saint Evremond, and the natural 
and singular charms of his hero, to be seduced by appearances ; 
however, as the EngKsh have, in general, a sort of predilection 
in favour of anything that has the appearance of bravery, 
Flamarens was better received on account of a duel, which, 
obliging him to leave his own country, was a recommendation 
to him in England. 

Miss Hamilton had, at first, the honour of being distinguished 
by Tambonneau, who thought she possessed a sufficient share 
of wit to discover the delicacy of his ; and, being delighted to 
find that nothing was lost in her conversation, either as to the 
turn, the expression, or beauty of the thought, he frequently 
did her the favour to converse with her; and, perhaps, he 
would never have found out that he was tiresome, if, content- 
ing himself with the display of his eloquence, he had not 
thought proper to attack her heart. This was carrying the 

* I find this person mentioned in Memoirs of the Court of France, 
-8vo., 1702, part ii., p. 42. 



222 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

matter a little too far for Miss Hamilton's complaisance, who 
was of opinion that she had already shown him too much for 
the tropes of his harangues : he was therefore desired to try 
somewhere else the experiment of his seducing tongue, and not 
to lose the merit of his former constancy by an infidelity which 
would be of no advantage to him. 

He followed this advice like a wise and tractable man ; 
and some time after, returning to his old mistress in France, 
he began to lay in a store of politics for those important ne- 
gotiations in which he has since been employed. 

It was not till after his departure that the Chevalier de 
Grammont heard of the amorous declaration he had made : 
this was a confidence of no great importance; it, however, 
saved Tambonneau from some ridicule which might have 
fallen to his share before he went away. His colleague, Fla- 
marens, deprived of his support, soon perceived that he was 
not likely to meet in England with the success he had ex- 
pected, both from love and fortune : but Lord Falmouth, ever 
attentive to the glory of his master, in the relief of illustrious 
men in distress, provided for his subsistence, and Lady 
Southesk for his pleasures : he obtained a pension from the 
king, and from her everything he desired ; and most happy 
was it for him that she had no other present to bestow but 
that of her heart. 

It was at this time that Talbot, whom we have before men- 
tioned, and who was afterwards created Duke of Tjrrconnel,* 

* Eichard Talbot, the fifth son " of an Irish family, but of ancient 
English extraction, which had always inhabited within that circle that 
was called the Pale ; which, being originally an English plantation, 
was, in so many hundred years, for the most part degenerated into 
the manners of the Irish, and rose and mingled with them in the late 
rebellion : and of this family there were two distinct families, who had 
competent estates, and lived in many descents in the rank of gentlemen 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 223 

fell in love with Miss Hamilton. There was not a more 
genteel man at court : he was indeed but a younger brother, 



of quality." Thus far Lord Clarendon ; who adds, that Richard Talbot 
and his " brothers were all the sons, or the grandsons, of one who was 
a judge in Ireland, and esteemed a learned man." — Continuation of 
Clarendon. Of the person now under consideration the same writer 
appears, and with great reason, to have entertained a very ill opinion. 
Dick Talbot, as he was called, " was brought into Flanders first by Daniel 
O'Neile, as one who was willing to assassinate Cromwell ; and he made 
a journey into England with that resolution, not long before his death, 
and after it returned into Flanders, ready to do all that he should be 
required. He was a very handsome young man, wore good clothes, and 
was, without doubt, of a clear, ready courage, which was virtue enough 
to recommend a man to the duke's good opinion ; which, with more 
expedition than could be expected, he got, to that degree, that he was 
made of his bed-chamber ; and from that qualification embarked himself, 
after the king's return, in the pretences of the Irish, with such an 
unusual confidence, and, upon private contracts, with such scandalous 
circumstances, that the chancellor had sometimes, at the council- table, 
been obliged to give him severe reprehensions, and often desired the 
duke to withdraw his countenance from him." — Continuation of Claren- 
don. It is to be remembered that he was one of the men of honour 
already noticed. On King James's accession to the throne, he was 
created ^^larl of Tyrconnel, and placed, as lieutenant-general, at the 
head of the Irish army, where his conduct was so agreeable to his 
sovereign, that he was, in 1689, advanced to the dignity of Duke of 
Tyrconnel. He was afterwards employed by the king in Ireland, where 
his efforts were without effect. The Duke of Berwick says, " his stature 
was above the ordinary size. He had great experience of the world, 
having been early introduced into the best company, and possessed of 
an honourable employment in the household of the Duke of York ; who, 
upon his succession to the crown, raised him to the dignity of an earl, 
and, well knowing his zeal and attachment, made him soon after viceroy 
of Ireland. He was a man of very good sense, very obliging, but immo- 
derately vain, and full of cunning. Though he had acquired great pos- 
sessions, it could not be said that he had employed improper means ; for 
he never appeared to have a passion for money. He had not a military 
genius, but much courage. After the Prince of Orange's invasion, his 



224: MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

though of a very ancient family, which, however, was not 
very considerable either for its renown or its riches; and 
though he was naturally of a careless disposition, yet, being 
intent upon making his fortune, and much in favour with the 
Duke of York, and fortune likewise favouring him at play, he 
had improved both so well that he was in possession of about 
forty thousand pounds a year in land. He offered himself to 
Miss Hamilton, with this fortune, together with the almost 
certain hopes of being made a peer of the realm, by his 
master's credit ; and, over-and-above all, as many sacrifices as 
she could desire of Lady Shrewsbury's letters, pictures, and 
hair; curiosities which, indeed, are reckoned for nothing in 
housekeeping, but which testify strongly in favour of the 
sincerity and merit of a lover. 

Such a rival was not to be despised ; and the Chevalier de 
Grammont thought him the more dangerous, as he perceived 
that Talbot was desperately in love ; that he was not a man 
to be discouraged by a first repulse ; that he had too much 
sense and good breeding to draw upon himself either contempt 
or coldness by too great eagerness ; and, besides this, his 
brothers began to frequent the house. One of these brothers 
was almoner to the queen,"^ an intriguing Jesuit, and a great 
match-maker : the other was what was called a lay-monk,t 

firmness preserved Ireland, and he nobly refused all the offers that were 
made to induce him to submit. From the time of the battle of the 
Boyne, he sank prodigiously, being become as irresolute in his mind as 
unwieldy in his person." — Memoirs, vol. i., p. 94. He died at Limerick, 
5th August, 1691. 

* This was Peter Talbot, whose character is drawn by Lord Claren- 
don in terms not more favourable than those in which his brother is 
pourtrayed. — See Continuation of Clarendon, p. 363. 

t Thomas Talbot, a Franciscan friar, of wit enough, says Lord 
Clarendon, but of notorious debauchery. More particulars of this man 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 225 

who had nothing of his order but the immorality and infamy 
of character which is ascribed to them ; and withal, frank and 
free, and sometimes entertaining, but ever ready to speak 
bold and offensive truths, and to do good of&ces. 

When the Chevalier de G-rammont reflected upon all these 
things, there certainly was strong ground for uneasiness : nor 
was the indifference which Miss Hamilton showed for the 
addresses of his rival sufficient to remove his fears ; for being 
absolutely dependent on her father's will, she could only 
answer for her own intentions : but Fortune, who seemed to 
have taken him under her protection in England, now de- 
livered him from all his uneasiness. 

Talbot had for many years stood forward as the patron of 
the distressed Irish : this zeal for his countrymen was cer- 
tainly very commendable in itself; at the same time, however, 
it was not altogether free from self-interest : for, out of all the 
estates he had, through his credit, procured the restoration of 
to their primitive owners, he had always obtained some small 
compensation for himself ; but, as each owner found his ad- 
vantage in it, no complaint was made. N'evertheless, as it is 
very difficult to use fortune and favour with moderation, and 
not to swell \«i^h the gales of prosperity, some of his proceed- 
ings had an air of haughtiness and independence, which 
offended the Duke of Ormond,"^ then Lord Lieutenant of 
Ireland, as injurious to his Grace's authority. The Duke re- 
sented this behaviour with great spirit. As there certainly 

may be found in the same noble historian, — See Continuation of 
Clarendon, p. 363. 

* A very exact account of this transaction is given by Lord Claren- 
don, by which it appears, that Talbot was committed to the Tower for 
threatening to assassinate the Duke of Ormond. — Continuation of 
Clarendon, p. 362. 

15 



226 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

was a great difference between them, both as to their birth 
and rank, and to their credit, it had been prudent in Talbot 
to have had recourse to apologies and submission ; but such 
conduct appeared to him base, and unworthy for a man of his 
importance to submit to : he accordingly acted with haughti- 
ness and insolence ; but he was soon convinced of his error ; 
for, having inconsiderately launched out into some arrogant 
expressions, which it neither became him to utter nor the 
Duke of Ormond to forgive, he was sent prisoner to the 
Tower, from whence he could not be released until he had 
made all necessary submissions to his Grace: he therefore 
employed all his friends for that purpose, and was obliged to 
yield more to get out of this scrape than would have been 
necessary to have avoided it. By this imprudent conduct he 
lost all hopes of marrying into a family, which, after such a 
proceeding, was not likely to listen to any proposal from him. 

It was with great difficulty and mortification that he was 
obliged to suppress a passion which had made far greater 
progress in his heart than this quarrel had done good to his 
affairs. This being the case, he was of opinion that his presence 
was necessary in Ireland, and that he was better out of the 
way of Miss Hamilton, to remove those impressions which 
still troubled his repose: his departure, therefore, soon fol- 
lowed this resolution. 

Talbot played deep, and was tolerably forgetful : the Che- 
valier de Grammont won three or four hundred guineas of 
him the very evening on which he was sent to the Tower. 
That accident had made him forget his usual punctuality in 
paying the next morning whatever he had lost over-night; 
and this d^bt had so far escaped his memory, that it never 
once occurred to him after he was enlarged. The Chevalier 
de Grammont, who saw him at his departure, without taking 




H m H "TE. F II IE, r<r I'^ :( ■.) X 



MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMOj^T, 227 

the least notice of the money he owed him, wished him a 
good journey; and, having met him at court, as he came to 
take his leave of the king : " Talbot," said he, " if my services 
can be of any use to you during your absence, you have but 
to command them : you know old Eussell has left his nephew 
as his resident with Miss Hamilton : if you please, I will act 
for you in the same capacity. Adieu, God bless you : be sure 
not to fall sick upon the road; but if you should, pray 
remember me in your will." Talbot, who, upon this compli- 
ment, immediately recollected the money he owed the Che- 
valier, burst out a-laughing, and embracing him : " My dear 
Chevalier," said he, " I am so much obliged to you for your 
offer, that I resign you my mistress, and will send you your 
money instantly." The Chevalier de Grammont possessed a 
thousand of these genteel ways of refreshing the memories of 
those persons who were apt to be forgetful in their payments. 
The following is the method he used some years after with 
Lord Cornwallis :* this lord had married the daughter of Sir 
Stephen Fox,-!* treasurer of the king's household, one of the 

* Charles, the third Lord Cornwallis, born in 1655. He married, 
December 27, 1673, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir Stephen Fox, 
knight, and afterwards, in 1688, the widow of the Duke of Mon- 
mouth. Lord Cornwallis died April 29, 1698. 

t This gentleman is said to have been of a genteel family, settled at 
Farley, in Wiltshire, and was the architect of his own fortune. Lord 
Clarendon says, in his History of the Rebellion^ that he was enter- 
tained by Lord Percy, then lord-chamberlain of the king's household, 
at Paris, about the year 1652, and continued in his majesty's service 
until the Eestoration. On that event he was made clerk of the gTeen 
cloth, and afterwards paymaster-general of the forces in England. On 
the 1st July, 1665, he was knighted. In 1680, he was constituted one 
of the lords commissioners of the treasury. On the accession of James 
II, he was continued first clerk of the green cloth ; and, in December, 
1686, was again appointed one of the commissioners of the treasury. 
At the revolution, he concurred in voting the throne vacant ; and, on 

15—2 



228 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

richest and most regular men in England. His son-in-law, 
on the contrary, was a young spendthrift, was very extrava- 
gant, loved gaming, lost as much as any one would trust him, 
but was not quite so ready at paying. His father-in-law dis- 
approved of his conduct, paid his debts, and gave him a 
lecture at the same time. The Chevalier de Grammont had 
won of him a thousand or twelve hundred guineas, which he 
heard no tidings of, although he was upon the eve of his de- 
parture, and he had taken leave of Cornwallis in a more par- 
ticular manner than any other person. This obliged the 
Chevalier to write him a billet, which was rather laconic. It 
was this : 

" My Lord, 

" Pray remember the Count de Grammont, and do not 
forget Sir Stephen Fox." 

To return to Talbot : he went away more concerned than 
became a man who had voluntarily resigned his mistress to 
another : neither his stay in Ireland, nor his solicitude about 
his domestic affairs, perfectly cured him ; and if at his return 
he found himself disengaged from Miss Hamilton's chains, it 
was only to exchange them for others. The alteration that 
had taken place in the two courts occasioned this change in 
him, as we shall see in the sequel. 

We have hitherto only mentioned the queen's maids of 
honour, upon account of Miss Stewart and Miss Warmestre : 

19th March, 1689, was a third time appointed to the treasury ; which, 
place he held until he retired from public business, in 1701. By his 
first lady he had seven sons and three daughters ; and by his second, 
whom he married in the year 1703, when he was 76 years of age, he 
had two sons, who both afterwards became peers, — Stephen, Earl of 
Ilchester, and Henry, Lord Holland, and two daughters. He died in 
the year 1716, at Chiswick, in his 89th year. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 229 

the others were Miss Bellenden, Mademoiselle de la Garde, 
and Mademoiselle Bardou, all maids of honour, as it pleased 
God. 

Miss Bellenden was no beauty, but was a good-natured girl, 
whose chief merit consisted in being plump and fresh-coloured; 
and who, not having a sufficient stock of wit to be a coquette 
in form, used all her endeavours to please every person by her 
complaisance. Mademoiselle de la Garde, and Mademoiselle 
Bardou, both French, had been preferred to their places by the 
queen dowager : the first was a little brunette, who was con- 
tinually meddling in the affairs of her companions ; and the 
other by all means claimed the rank of a maid of honour, 
though she only lodged with the others, and both her title and 
services were constantly contested. 

It was hardly possible for a woman to be more ugly, mth 
so fine a shape ; but as a recompense, her ugliness was set off 
with every art. The use she was put to, was to dance with 
Flamarens, and sometimes, towards the conclusion of a ball, 
possessed of castanets and effrontery, she would dance some 
figured saraband or other, which amused the court. Let us 
now see in what manner this ended. 

As Miss Stewart was very seldom in waiting on the queen^ 
she was scarcely considered as a maid of honour : the others 
went off almost at the same time, by different adventures ; and 
this is the history of Miss Warmestre, whom we have before 
mentioned, when speaking of the Chevalier de Grammont. 

Lord Taaffe, eldest son of the Earl of Carlingford,* was sup- 

* Nicholas, the third Viscount Taaffe, and second Earl of Carlingford. 
He was of the privy-council to King James IL, and, in 1689, went as 
envoy to the Emperor LeojDold. He lost his life the next year, 1st 
July, at the battle of the Boyne, commanding at that time a regi- 
ment of foot. This nobleman, although he succeeded his father in his 
title, was not his eldest son. King Charles appears to have had a great 



230 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

posed to be in love with her ; and Miss Warmestre not only 
imagined it was so, but likewise persuaded herself that he 
would not fail to marry her the first opportunity ; and in the 
mean time she thought it her duty to entertain him with all 
the civility imaginable. Taaffe had made the Duke of Eich- 
mond"^ his confidant : these two were particularly attached to 
each other ; but still more so to wine. The Duke of Eich- 
mond, notwithstanding his birth, made but an indifferent 
figure at court ; and the king respected him still less than his 
courtiers did : and perhaps it was in order to court his ma- 
jesty's favour that he thought proper to faU. in love with Miss 
Stewart. The Duke and Lord Taaffe made each other the 
confidants of their respective engagements; and these were 
the measures they took to put their designs in execution. 
Little Mademoiselle de la Garde"|* was charged to acquaint 

regard for the family. In a letter from Lord Arlington to Sir Eichard 
Fanshaw, dated April 21, 1664, that nobleman says, " Colonel Luke 
Taaffe (a brother of my Lord Carlingford's) hath served his catholic 
majesty many years in the state of Milan, with a standing regiment 
there ; which regiment he desires now to deliver over to Captain 
Nicholas Taaffe, a younger son of my Lord Carlingford's, and the 
colonel's nephew, who is now a captain of the regiment ; and his 
majesty commands me to recommend to your excellency the bringing 
this to pass, for the affection he hath to the family, and the merit of 
this young gentleman." — Arlington's Letters, vol. ii., p. 21. 

* Charles Stewart, Duke of Eichmond and Lennox. He was after- 
wards sent ambassador to Denmark, and died at Elsinore, December 
12, 1672. Burnet says, he " was sent to give a lustre to the negotia- 
tion, which was chiefly managed by Mr. Henshaw.'' — History of his 
own Times J vol. i., p. 425. 

t Daughter of Charles Peliot, Lord de la Garde, whose eldest 
daughter married Sir Thomas Bond, comptroller of the household to 
the queen-mother. Sir Thomas Bond had a considerable estate at Peck- 
ham, and his second son married the niece of Jermyn, one of the 
heroes of these Memoirs. — See Collinses Baronetage, vol. iii., p. 4. She 
became the wife of Sir Gabriel Silvius, and died 13th October, 1730. 




t 



^m£^:f^IE.s ^nri^^^^T^DrKj^ (.:i^ lacii::! di^jd) 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 231 

Miss Stewart that the Duke of Eichmond was dying of love 
for her, and that when he ogled her in public it was a certain 
sign that he was ready to marry her, as soon as ever she would 
consent. 

Taaffe had no commission to give the little ambassadress 
for Miss Warmestre; for there everything was already ar- 
ranged ; but she was charged to settle and provide some con- 
veniences which were still wanting for the freedom of their 
commerce, such as to have free egress and regress to her at all 
hours of the day or night : this appeared difficult to be obtained, 
but it was, however, at length accomplished. 

The governess of the maids of honour, who for the world 
would not have connived at anything that was not fair and 
honourable, consented that they should sup as often as they 
pleased in Miss,Warmestre's apartments, provided their inten- 
tions were honourable, and she one of the company. The good 
old lady was particularly, fond of green oysters, and had no 
aversion to Spanish-.wine : she was certain of finding at every 
one of these suppers two barrels of oysters; one to be eaten 
with the party, and the other for her to carry away: as soon, 
therefore, as she had taken her dose of wine, she took her 
leave of the company. 

It was much about the time that the Chevalier de Gram- 
mont had cast his eyes upon Miss Warmestre, that this kind 
of life was led in her chamber. God knows how many ham 
pies, bottles of wine, and other products of his lordship's liber- 
ality were there consumed ! 

In the midst of these nocturnal festivals, and of this innocent 
commerce, a relation of Killegrew's came up to London about 
a lawsuit : he gained his cause, but nearly lost his senses. 

He was a country gentleman, who had been a widower 
about six months, and was possessed of fifteen or sixteen thou- 



232 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

sand pounds a-year : the good man, who had no business at 
court, went thither merely to see his cousin Killegrew, who 
could have dispensed with his visits. He there saw Miss 
Warmestre ; and at first sight fell in love with her. His passion 
increased to such a degree that, having no rest either by day 
or night, he was obliged to have recourse to extraordinary re- 
medies ; he therefore early one morning called upon his cousin 
Killegrew, told him his case, and desired him to demand Miss 
Warmestre in marriage for him. 

Killegrew was struck with wonder and astonishment when 
he heard his design : nor could he cease wondering at what 
sort of creature, of all the women in London, his cousui had 
resolved upon marrying. It was some time before Killegrew 
could believe that he was in earnest ; but when he was con- 
vinced that he was, he began to enumerate the dangers and 
inconveniences attending so rash an enterprise. He told hmi 
that a girl educated at court, was a terrible piece of furniture 
for the country ; that to carry her thither against her inclina- 
tion, would as effectually rob him of his happiness and repose, 
as if he was transported to hell ; that if he consented to let 
her stay, he needed only to compute what it would cost him in 
equipage, table, clothes, and gaming-money, to maintain her in 
London according to her caprices ; and then to cast up how 
long his fifteen thousand a-year would last. 

His cousin had already formed this computation ; but, find- 
ing his reason less potent than his love, he remained fixed in 
his resolution ; and Killegrew, yielding at length to his impor- 
tunities, went and offered his cousin, bound hand and foot, to 
the victorious fair. As he dreaded nothing more than a com- 
pliance on her part, so nothing could astonish hun more than 
the contempt with which she received his proposal. The scorn 
with which she refused him, made him believe that she was 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. Zoo 

sure of Lord Taaffe, and wonder how a girl like her could find 
out two men who would venture to marry her. He hastened 
to relate this refusal, with all the most aggravating circum- 
stances, as the best news he could carry to his cousin ; but his 
cousin would not believe him: he supposed that Killegrew 
disguised the truth, for the same reasons he had already al- 
leged ; and not daring to mention the matter any more to him, 
he resolved to wait upon her himself. He summoned all his 
courage for the enterprise, and got his compliment by heart ; 
but as soon as he had opened his mouth for the purpose, she 
told him he might have saved himself the trouble of calling 
on her about such a ridiculous affair ; that she had already 
given her answer to Killegrew ; and that she neither had, nor 
ever should have, any other to give ; wliich words she accom- 
panied with all the severity with which importunate demands 
are usually refused. 

He was more affected than confounded at this repulse: 
everything became odious to him in London, and he himself 
more so than all the rest : he therefore left town, without taking- 
leave of his cousin, went back to his country seat, and thinking 
it would be impossible for him to live without the inhuman 
fair, he resolved to neglect no opportunity in his power to 
hasten his death. 

But whilst, in order to indulge his sorrow, he had forsaken 
all intercourse with dogs and horses ; that is to say, renounced 
all the delights and endearments of a country squire, the scorn- 
ful nymph, who was certainly mistaken in her reckoning, took 
the liberty of being brought to-bed in the face of the whole 
court. 

An adventure so public made no small noise, as we may 
very well imagine : all the prudes at court at once broke loose 
upon it ; and those principally, whose age or persons secured 



.234 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

them from any such scandal, were the most inveterate, and 
cried most loudly for justice. But the governess of the maids 
of honour, who might have been called to an account for it, 
af&rmed that it was nothing at all, and that she was possessed 
of circumstances which would at once silence all censorious 
tongues. She had an audience of the queen, in order to un- 
fold the mystery ; and related to her majesty how everything 
had passed with her consent, that is to say, upon honourable 
terms. 

The queen sent to inquire of Lord Taaffe, whether he ac- 
knowledged Miss Warmestre for his wife : to which he most 
respectfully returned for answer, that he neither acknowledged 
Miss Warmestre nor her child, and that he wondered why she 
should rather father it upon him than any other. The unfor- 
tunate Warmestre, more enraged at this answer than at the 
loss of such a lover, quitted the court as soon as ever she was 
able, with a resolution of quitting the world the first oppor- 
tunity. 

Killegrew, being upon the point of setting out upon a jour- 
ney, when this adventure happened, thought he might as well 
call upon his af&icted cousin in his way, to acquaint him with 
the circumstance; .and as soon as he saw him, without paying 
any attention to the delicacy of his love, or to his feelings, he 
bluntly told him the whole story : nor did he omit any colour- 
ing that could heighten his indignation, in order to make him 
burst with shame and resentment. 

We read that the gentle Tiridates quietly expired upon the 
recital of the death of Mariamne ; but Killegrew's fond cousin 
falling devoutly upon his knees, and lifting up his eyes to 
Heaven, poured forth this exclamation : 

" Praised be the Lord for a small misfortune, which perhaps 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 235 

may prove the comfort of my life ! Who knows but the beau- 
teous Warmestre will now accept of me for a husband ; and 
that I may have the happiness of passing the remainder of my 
days with a woman I adore, and by whom I may expect to 
have heirs ?" " Certainly," said Killegrew, more confounded 
than his cousin ought to have been on such an occasion, " you 
may depend upon having both : I make no manner of doubt 
but she will marry you as soon as ever she is recovered from 
her lying-in ; and it would be a great ill-nature in her, who 
already knows the way, to let you want children : however, in 
the meantime I advise you to take that she has already, till 
you get more." 

Notwithstanding this raillery, all that was said did take 
place. This faithful lover courted her, as if she had been the 
chaste Lucretia, or the beauteous Helen : his passion even in- 
creased after marriage, and the generous fair, first out of 
gratitude, and afterwards through inclination, never brought 
him a child of which he was not the father; and though 
there have been many a happy couple in England, this 
<jertainly was the happiest. 

Some time after. Miss Bellenden, not being terrified by this 
-example, had the prudence to quit the court before she was 
obliged so to do : the disagreeable Bardou followed her soon 
after; but for different reasons. Every person was at last 
completely tired of her saraband, as well as of her face ; and 
the king, that he might see neither of them any more, gave 
each a small pension for her subsistence. There now only 
remained little Mademoiselle de la Garde to be provided for : 
neither her virtues nor her vices were sufiiciently conspicuous 
to occasion her being either dismissed from court, or pressed to 
remain there : God knows what would have become of her, if 



236 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

a Mr. Silvius,^ a man who had nothing of a Eoman in him 
except the name, had not taken the poor girl to be his wife. 

We have now shown how all these damsels deserved to be 
expelled, either for their irregularities, or for their ugliness ; 
and yet, those who replaced them found means to make them 
regretted. Miss Wells only excepted. 

She was a tall girl, exquisitely shaped: she dressed very 
genteel, walked like a goddess ; and yet, her face, though 
made like those that generally please the most, was unfortu- 
nately one of those that pleased the least : nature had spread 
over it a certain careless indolence that made her look 
sheepish. This gave but a bad opinion of her wit : and her 
wit had the ill-luck to make good that opinion : however, as 
she was fresh coloured, and appeared inexperienced, the king, 
whom the fair Stewart did not render over nice as to the 
perfections of the mind, resolved to try whether the senses 
would not fare better with Miss Wells's person than fine senti- 
ments with her understanding : nor was this experiment 
attended with much difficulty: she was of a loyal family; 
and her father having faithfully served Charles the First, she 
thought it her duty not to revolt against Charles the Second. 
But this connection was not attended with very advantageous 
circumstances for herself; some pretended that she did not 
hold out long enough, and that she surrendered at discretion 
before she was vigorously attacked; and others said, that 

* Afterwards Sir Gabriel Silvius. In Chamherlayne^s Anglice 
Notitia, 1669, Gabriel de Sylviis is put down as one of the carvers to 
the queen, and Mi-s. de Sylviis, one of the six chambriers or dressers 
to the queen. He was afterwards knighted, and, 30th February, 1680, 
was sent ambassador to the Dukes of Brunswick and Lunenburgh. 
Lord Orford says, he was a native of Orange, and was attached to 
the princess-royal, afterwards to the Duke of York. He also says, he 
was sent ambassador to Denmark. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 237 

lis majesty complained of certain other facilities still less 
pleasing. The Duke of Buckingham made a couplet upon 
this occasion, wherein the king, speaking to Progers, the con- 
fidant of his intrigues, puns upon the name of the fair one, to 
the following purport : 

When the king felt the horrible depth of this Well, 

Tell me, Progers,* cried Charlie, where am I ? oh tell ! 

Had I sought the world's centre to find, I had found it, 

But this Well ! ne'er a plummet was made that could sound it." 

* Edward Progers, Esq., was a younger son of Philip Progers, Esq., 
of the family of Garreddin, in Monmouthshire. His father was a 
colonel in the army, and equerry to James I. Edward was early in- 
troduced to coiirt, and, after having been page to Charles I., was made 
groom of the bed-chamber to his son, while Prince of Wales. He 
attached himself to the king's interest during the war with the par- 
liament, with laudable fidelity. The following letter, from which 
antiquaries may derive the minute information that Charles II. did 
wear mourning for a whole year for his father, serves to shew the fami- 
liar style which Charles used to Progers, as well as his straitened cir- 
cumstances while in the island of Jersey. 

" Progers, I wold have you (besides the embroidred sute) bring me a 
plaine riding suite, with an innocent coate, the suites I haue for horse - 
backe being so spotted and spoiled that they are not to be seene out of 
this island. The lining of the coate, and the petit toies are referred to your 
greate discretion, provided there want nothing when it comes to be put 
on. I doe not remember there was a belt, or a hat-band, in your direc- 
tions for the embroidred suite, and those are so necessarie as you must 
not forget them. 

Jearsez/, lUh Jan. old stile, 1649. Charles E.'^ 

^' For Mr. Progers." 

By a letter from Cowley to Henry Bennet, dated 18th November, 1650, 
Mr. Progers appears to have been then active in his master's service. — 
Brown! s Miscellanea Aidica, 1702, p. 153. In the lampoons of the 
times, particularly in those of Andrew Marvell, Mr. Progers is de- 
scribed as one devoted to assist his master's pleasures; for which reason, 
perhaps, he was banished from the king's presence in 1650, by an act of 
the estates of Scotland, " as an evil instrument and bad counsellor of the 



238 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

Miss Wells, notwithstanding this species of anagram upon 
her name, and these remarks upon her person, shone the 
brightest among her new companions. These were Miss 
Levingston, Miss Fielding, and Miss Boynton, who little 
deserve to be mentioned in these memoirs; therefore we 
shall leave them in obscurity until it please fortune to draw 
them out of it. 

This was the new establishment of maids of honour to the 
queen. The Duchess of York, nearly about the same time, 
likewise recruited hers ; but showed, by a happier and more 
brilliant choice, that England possessed an inexhaustible 
stock of beauties. But before we begin to speak of them, let 
us see who were the first maids of honour to her royal high- 
ness, and on what account they were removed. 

Besides Miss Blague and Miss Price, whom we have before 
mentioned, the establishment was composed of Miss Bagot 
and Miss Hobart, the president of the community. 

king." He is said to have obtained several grants to take effect upon 
the restoration : but it does not appear that they took effect. In 1660, 
he was named, says Lord Orford, one of the knights of the royal oak, 
an order the king then intended to institute. By the same authority we 
are informed that he had permission from the king to build a house in 
Bushy Park, near Hampton Court, on condition that, after his death, it 
should revert to the crown. This was the house inhabited by the late 
Earl of Halifax. He represented the county of Brecon in parliament for 
seventeen years, but retired in 1679. On the death of his master, he 
retired from public life. Mr. Progers died, says Le Neve, " December 
31st, or January 1st, 1V13, aged 96, of the anguish of cutting teeth, he 
having cut four new teeth, and had several ready to cut, which so in- 
flamed his gums, that he died thereof." He was in low circumstances 
before his death, and applied to King James for relief, with what effect 
is not known. Mr. Progers had a family by his wife Elizabeth Wells ; 
and the scandal-bearers of the time remarked, that his eldest daughter 
Philippa, afterwards Mrs. Croxel, bore a strong resemblance to Charles 
II. — Monumenta Anglicana, 1717, p. 273. 




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MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 239' 

Miss Blague, who never knew the true reason of her quarrel 
with the Marquis de Brisacier, took it up upon that fatal 
letter she had received from him, wherein, without acquaint- 
ing her that Miss Price was to wear the same sort of gloves 
and yellow riband as herself, he had only complimented her 
upon her hair, her fair complexion, and her eyes TYiarcassins. 
This word she imagined must signify something particularly 
wonderful, since her eyes were compared to it; and being 
desirous, some time afterwards, to know all the energy of the 
expression, she asked the meaning of the French word Tnar- 
cassin. As there are no wild boars in England, those to 
whom she addressed herself, told her that it signified a young 
pig. This scandalous simile confirmed her in the belief she 
entertained of his perfidy. Brisacier, more amazed at her 
change, than she was offended at his supposed calumny 
looked upon her as a woman still more capricious than in- 
significant, and never troubled himself more about her ; but 

Sir Yarborough, of as fair a complexion as herself, made 

her an offer of marriage in the height of her resentment, and 
was accepted : chance made up this match, I suppose, as an 
experiment to try what such a white-haired union would 
produce. 

Miss Price was witty; and as her person was not very 
likely to attract many admirers, which, however, she was re- 
solved to have, she was far from being coy when an occasion 
offered : she did not so much as make any terms : she was 
violent in her resentments, as well as in her attachments, 
which had exposed her to some inconveniences ; and she had 
very indiscreetly quarrelled with a young girl whom Lord 
Eochester admired. This connection, which till then had 
been a secret, she had the imprudence to publish to the whole 
world, and thereby drew upon herself the most dangerous- 



240 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

enemy in the universe : never did any man write with more 
<ease, hnmoiir, spirit, and delicacy ; but he was at the same 
time the most severe satirist. 

Poor Miss Price, who had thus voluntarily provoked liis 
resentment, was daily exposed in some new shape : there was 
every day some new song or other, the subject of which was 
her conduct, and the burden her name. How was it possible 
for her to bear up against these attacks, in a court, where 
every person was eager to obtain the most insignificant trifle 
that came from the pen of Lord Eochester ? The loss of her 
lover, and the discovery that attended it, was only wanting to 
complete the persecution that was raised against her. 

About this time died Dongan,^ a gentleman of merit, who 
was succeeded by Durfort, afterwards Earl of Feversham,-|- in 

* The only notice of this person I have anywhere seen, is in the 
following extract of a letter from Sir Eichard Fanshaw to Lord Arling- 
ton, dated 4th June, 1664. — "I ought not, in justice to an honourable 
person, to conclude before I acquaint your honour, that I have this day 
seen a letter, whereby it is certified, from my Lord Dongan, (now at 
Heres,) that, if there were any ship in Cadiz bound for Tangier, he 
would go over in her, to do his majesty what service he could in that 
garrison ; which, he saith, he fears wants good officers very much." — 
Fanshaiv's Letters, vol. i., p. 104. 

t Louis de Duras, Earl of Feversham, a native of France, being son 
of the Duke de Duras, and brother to the last duke of that name, as 
also to the Duke de Lorge. His mother was sister to the great Turenne, 
of the princely house of Bouillon. After the restoration he came to 
England, was naturalized, and behaved with great gallantry in the sea- 
fight with the Dutch, in 1665. When he first came to England, he 
bore the name of Durfoi't, and the title of Marquis of Blancfort. In 
the 24th, Charles 11. he was created Baron Duras of Holdenby, in the 
county of Northampton; and having married Mary, the eldest daughter 
and co-heir of Sir George Sondes, of Lees Court, in the county of 
Kent, who had been created Earl of Feversham, the same title was 
limited to him, and he succeeded to it on the death of his father-in-law. 
Besides these honours. King Charles preferred him to the command of 



MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 241 

the post of lieutenant of the duke's life guards. Miss Price 
having tenderly loved him, his death plunged her into a gulf 
of despair ; but the inventory of his effects had almost de- 
prived her of her senses : there was in it a certain little box 
sealed up on all sides : it was addressed in the deceased's own 
handwriting to Miss Price; but instead of receiving it, she 
had not even the courage to look upon it. The governess 
thought it became her in prudence to receive it, on Miss 
Price's refusal, and her duty to deliver it to the duchess herself, 
supposing it was filled with many curious and precious com- 
modities, of which perhaps she might make some advantage. 
Though the duchess was not altogether of the same opinion, 
she had the curiosity to see what was contained in a box sealed 
up in a manner so particularly careful, and therefore caused 
it to be opened in the presence of some ladies, who happened 
then to be in her closet. 

All kinds of love trinkets were found in it ; and all these fa- 
vours, it appeared, came from the tender-hearted Miss Price. 
It was difficult to comprehend how a single person could have 
furnished so great a collection ; for, besides counting the pic- 
tures, there was hair of all descriptions, wrought into bracelets, 
lockets, and into a thousand other different devices, wonderful 
to see. After these were three or four packets of letters, of 

the third troop of horse guards, afterwards promoted him to the second, 
and then to the first. In 1679, he was made master of the horse to 
Queen Katharine, and afterwards lord-chamberlain to her majesty. 
Upon King James's accession he was admitted into the privy council, and 
was commander-in-chief of the forces sent against the Duke of Mon- 
mouth. After the revolution, he continued lord -chamberlain to the 
queen-dowager, and master of the royal college of St. Kalherine's, near 
the Tower. He died April 8th, 1709, aged 68, and was buried in the 
Savoy, in the Strand, London; but removed, March 21st, 1740, to West- 
minster Abbey. 

16 



242 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

SO tender a nature, and so full of raptures and languors so 
naturally expressed, that the duchess could not endure the 
reading of any more than the two first. 

Her royal highness was sorry that she had caused the box 
to be opened in such good company ; for being before such 
witnesses, she rightly judged it was impossible to stifle this 
adventure ; and, at the same time, there being no possibility 
of retaining any longer such a maid of honour, Miss Price had 
her valuables restored to her, with orders to go and finish her 
lamentations, or to console herself for the loss of her lover, in 
some other place. 

Miss Hobart's character was at that time as uncommon in 
England, as her person was singular, in a country where, to be 
young, and not to be in some degree handsome, is a reproach ; 
she had a good shape, rather a bold air, and a gr^at deal of 
wit, which was well cultivated, without having much discre- 
tion. She was likewise possessed of a great deal of vivacity, 
with an irregular fancy : there was a great deal of fire in her "" 
eyes, which, however, produced no effect upon the beholders : ' 
and she had a tender heart, whose sensibility some pretended 
was alone in favour of the fair sex. 

Miss Bagot"^ was the first that gained her tenderness and 

* Elizabeth, daughter of Hervey Bagot, second son of Sir Hervey ' 
Bagot. She married first Charles Berkley, Earl of Falmouth, and, 
after his death, Charles Sackville, who became the first Duke of Dor- 
set. From the pen of a satirist much dependence is not to be placed 
for the truth of facts. This lady's character is treated by Dryden and 
Mulgrave with very little respect, in the following lines, extracted 
from '• The Essay on Satire :" 

" Thus Dorset, purring like a thoughtful cat, 
Married ; but wiser puss ne'er thought of that : 
And first he worried her with railing rhyme, 
Like Pembroke's mastiffs at his kindest time ; 
Then for one night sold all his slavish life, 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAJVIMONT. 243 

affection, which she returned at first with equal warmth and 
sincerity ; but perceiving that all her friendship was insuffi- 
cient to repay that of Miss Hobart, she yielded the conquest 
to the governess's niece, who thought herself as much honoured 
by it as her aunt thought herself obliged by the care she took 
of the young girl. 

It was not long before the report, whether true or false, of 
this singularity, spread through the whole court, where people, 
being yet so uncivilized as never to have heard of that kind 
of refinement in love of ancient Greece, imagined that the 
illustrious Hobart, who seemed so particularly attached to 
the fair sex, was in reality something more than she appeared 
to be. 

Satirical ballads soon began to compliment her upon these 
new attributes ; and upon the insinuations that v/ere therein 
made, her companions began to fear her. The governess, 
alarmed at these reports, consulted Lord Eochester upon the 
danger to which her niece was exposed. She could not have 
applied to a fitter person : he immediately advised her to take 
her niece out of the hands of Miss Hobart ; and contrived 
matters so well that she fell into his own. The duchess, who 
had too much generosity not to treat as visionary what was 
imputed to Miss Hobart, and too much justice to condemn 
her upon the faith of lampoons, removed lier from the society 

A teeming widow, but a barreo wife ; 
Sweli'd by contact of snch a fulsome toad, 
He l.igg'd about the matrimonial load ; 
Till fortune, blindly kind as well as he. 
Has ill restored bim to his liberty ; 
Which he would use in his old sneaking way, 
Drinking all night, and dosing all the day ; 
Dull as Ned Howard, whom his brisker times 
Had famed for dulntsj in malicious rhymes." 

16—2 



244 . MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

of the maids of honour, to be an attendant upon her own 
person. 

Miss Bagot was the only one who was really possessed of 
virtue and beauty among these maids of honour: she had 
beautiful and regular features, and that sort of brown com- 
plexion, which, when in perfection, is so particularly fascina- 
ting, and more especially in England, where it is uncommon. 
There was an involuntary blush almost continually upon her 
cheek, without having anything to. blush for. Lord Falmouth 
cast his eyes upon her : his addresses were better received 
than those of Miss Hobart, and some time after Cupid raised 
her from the post of maid of honour to the duchess to a rank 
which might have been envied by all the young ladies in 
England, 

The Duchess of York, in order to form her new court, re- 
solved to see all the young persons that offered themselves, 
and, without any regard to recommendations, to choose none 
but the handsomest. 

At the head of this new assembly appeared Miss Jennings 
and Miss Temple ; and indeed they so entirely eclipsed the 
other two, that we shall speak of them only. 

Miss Jennings,"^ adorned with all the blooming treasures of 

* This lady was one of the daughters and co-heirs of Eichard 
Jennings of Sundridge, in the county of Hertford, Esq., and elder 
sister to the celebrated Duchess of Marlborough. Her name was 
Frances. She married George Hamilton, mentioned in these Memoirs ; 
and after his death took to her second husband Eichard Talbot, already 
mentioned, created Duke of Tyrconnel by James II., whose fortunes 
he followed. Lord Melfort, secretary to that prince, appears to have 
conceived no very favourable opinion of this lady ; for in a letter to his 
master, dated October, 1689, he says, " there is one other thing, if it 
could be effectuated, were of infinite use ; which is the getting the 
Duchess of Tyrconnel, for her health, to come into France. I did not 
know she had been sd well known here as she is ; but the terms they 




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MEMOIKS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 245 

youth, had the fairest and brightest complexion that ever was 
seen : her hair was of a most beauteous flaxen : there was 
something particularly lively and animated in her countenance, 
which preserved her from that insipidity which is frequently 
an attendant on a complexion so extremely fair. Her mouth 
was not the smallest, but it was the handsomest mouth in the 
world. N'ature had endowed her with all those charms which 
cannot be expressed, and the graces had given the finishing 
stroke to them. The turn of her face was exquisitely fine, 
and her swelling neck was as fair and as bright as her face. In 
a word, her person gave the idea of Aurora, or the goddess of 
the spring, " such as youthful poets fancy when they love." 
But as it would have been unjust that a single person should 
have engrossed all the treasures of beauty without any defect, 
there was something wanting in her hands and arms to render 
them worthy of the rest : her nose was not the most elegant, 
and her eyes gave some relief, whilst her mouth and her other 
charms pierced the heart with a thousand darts. 

With this amiable person she was full of wit and sprightli- 
ness, and all her actions and motions were unaffected and easy: 
her conversation was bewitching, when she had a mind to 

give her, and which, for your service, I may repeat unto you, is, that 
she has {Udme la 'plus noire qui se puisse concevoir). I think it would 
help to keep that peace so necessary for you, and prevent that cabal- 
ling humour which has very ill effects." — Macpherson^s State Papers, 
vol. i. In 1699 she is mentioned in a letter from the Earl of Man- 
chester to Lord Jersey, as one of the needy Jacobites of King James's 
court, to whom 3,000 crowns, part of that monarch's pension, had been 
distributed. — Coles's State Papers, p. 53. In 1705 she was in Eng- 
land, and had an interview with her brother-in-law, the Duke of 
Marlborough, with whose family she seems not to have lived in any 
terms of cordiality. — Macpherson, vol. i. In the latter part of her 
life she resided in Ireland, and died there, 6th March, 1730-1, at a very 
advanced age,— She was buried in the cathedral of St. Patrick's. 



246 MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

please ; piercing and delicate wlien disposed to raillery ; but 
as her imagination -vvas subject to flights, and as she began to 
s]3eak frequently before she had done tliinking, her expressions 
did not always convey a\1i at she wished; sometimes exceeding, 
and at others falling short of her ideas. 

Miss Temple,"^ nearly of the same age, was brown compared 
with the other : she had a good sliape, fine teeth, languishing 
eyes, a fresh complexion, an agreeable smile, and a lively air. 
Such was the outw^ard form ; but it w^ould be difficult to de- 
scribe the rest ; for she was simple and vain, credulous and 
suspicious, coquettish and prudent, very self-sufficient and 
very silly. 

As soon as these ncAv stars appeared at the duchess's court, 
all eyes were fixed upon them, and every one formed some 
design upon one or other of them, some with honourable, and 
others with dishonest intentions. Miss Jennings soon distin- 
guished lierseK, and left her companions no other admirers 
but such as remained constant from hopes of success : her 
brilliant charms attracted at first sight, and the charms of her 
wit secured her conquests. 

The Duke of York having persuaded himseK that she was 
part of Ms property, resolved to pursue his claim by the same 
title whereby his brother had appropriated to liimself the 
favours of Miss Wells ; but he did not find her inclined to 
enter into his service, though she had engaged in that of the 
duchess. She would not pay any attention to the perpetual 

"'■ Anne, daughter of Thomas Temple of Trankton, in the county of 
Warwick ; by Eebecca, daughter of Sir Nicholas Carew, of Beddiugton, 
in Surrey, knight. She afterwards became the second wife of Sir 
Charles Lyttelton, by whom she had five sons, and eight daughters. 
She was grandmother of the first Lord Lyttelton ; and died 27th 
August, 1718. Her husband, Sir Charles Lyttelton, lived to the 
advanced age of 86 years ; and died at Hagley, May 2d, 1716. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 247 

Ogling with which he at first attacked her. Her eyes were 
always wandering on other objects, when those of his royal 
highness were looking for them ; and if by chance he caught 
any casual glance, she did not even blush. This made him 
resolve to change his manner of attack : ogling having proved 
ineffectual, he took an opportunity to speak to her ; and this 
was still worse. I know not in what strain he told his case ; 
but it is certain the oratory of the tongue was not more pre- 
vailing than the eloquence of his eyes. 

Miss Jennings had both virtue and pride, and the proposals 
of the duke were consistent with neither the one nor the other. 
Although from her great vivacity one might suppose that she 
was not capable of much reflection, yet she had furnished her- 
self with some very salutary maxims for the conduct of a 
young person of her age. The first was, that a lady ought to 
be young to enter the court with advantage, and not old to 
leave it with a good grace : that she could not maintain her- 
self there but by a glorious resistance, or by illustrious foibles : 
and that, in so dangerous a situation, she ought to use her ut- 
most endeavours not to dispose of her heart until she gave 
lier hand. 

Entertaining such sentiments, she had far less trouble to 
resist the duke's temptations, than to disengage herself from 
his perseverance : she was deaf to all treaties for a settlement, 
with which her ambition was sounded : and all offers of pre- 
sents succeeded still worse. What was then to be done to 
conquer an extravagant virtue that would not hearken to 
reason ? He was ashamed to suffer a giddy young girl to 
escape, whose inclinations ought in some manner to correspond 
with the vivacity that shone forth in all her actions, and who 
nevertheless thought proper to be serious when no such thing 
as seriousness was required of her. 



248 MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

After he had attentively considered her obstinate behaviour, 
he thought that writing might perhaps succeed, though ogling, 
speeches, and embassies had failed. Paper receives everything, 
but it unfortunately happened that she would not receive the 
paper. Every day billets, containing the tenderest expressions, 
and most magnificent promises, were slipped into her pockets, 
or into her muff: this, however, could not be done unper- 
ceived ; and the malicious little gipsy took care that those Avhc 
saw them slip in, should likewise see them faU out, unperused 
and unopened ; she only shook her muff, or pulled out her 
handkerchief ; as soon as ever his back was turned, his billets 
fell about her like hail-stones, and whoever pleased might take 
them up. The duchess was frequently a witness of this con- 
duct, but could not find in her heart to chide her for her want 
of respect to the duke. After this, the charms and prudence of 
Miss Jennings were the only subjects of conversation in the 
two courts : the courtiers could not comprehend how a young- 
creature, brought directly from the country to court, should 
so soon become its ornament by her attractions, and its ex- 
ample by her conduct. 

The king was of opinion that those who had attacked her 
had ill-concerted their measures ; for he thought it unnatural 
that she should neither be tempted by promises, nor gained by 
importunity : she, especially, who in all probability had not 
imbibed such severe precepts from the prudence of her mother, 
who had never tasted any thing more delicious than the plums 
and apricots of Saint Albans."* Being resolved to try her 
himself, he was particularly pleased with the great novelty 
that appeared in the turn of her wit, and in the charms of her 
person ; and curiosity, which at first induced him to make the 

* This town is in the neighbourhood of Sundridge, where Miss 
Jennings's family resided. 




i>i[ ]r .^ s T 1?: rvK IP x.^ 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 249 

trial, was soon changed into a desire of succeeding in the ex- 
periment. God knows what might have been the consequence, 
for he greatly excelled in wit, and besides he was king : two 
qualities of no small consideration. The resolutions of the 
fair Jennings were commendable, and very judicious ; but yet 
she was wonderfully pleased with wit; and royal majest}^ 
prostrate at the feet of a young person, is very persuasive. 
Miss Stewart, however, would not consent to the king's project. 
She immediately took the alarm, and desired his majesty to 
leave to the duke, his brother, the care of tutoring the duchess's 
maids of honour, and only to attend to the management of 
his own flock, unless his majesty would in return allow her 
to listen to certain proposals of a settlement which she did 
not think disadvantageous. This menace being of a serious 
nature, the king obeyed ; and Miss Jennings had all the ad- 
ditional honour which arose from this adventure: it both 
^dded to her reputation, and increased the number of her 
admirers. Thus she continued to triumph over the liberties 
of others without ever losing her own: her hour was not yet 
come, but it was not far distant ; the particulars of which we 
shall relate as soon as we have given some account of the 
conduct of her companion. 

^ Though Miss Temple's person was particularly engaging, it 
was nevertheless eclipsed by that of Miss Jennings ; but she 
was still more excelled by the other's superior mental ac- 
complishments. Two persons, very capable to impart under- 
standing, had the gift been communicable, undertook at the 
same time to rob her of the little she really possessed : these 
were Lord Eochester and Miss Hobart: the first began to 
mislead her by reading to her all his compositions, as if she 
alone had been a proper judge of them. He never thought 
proper to flatter her upon her personal accomplishments ; but 



250 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

told her that if heaven had made him susceptible of the im- 
pressions of beauty, it would not have been possible for him 
to have escaped her chains; but not being, thank God, 
affected with anything but wit, he had the happiness of en- 
joying the most agreeable conversation in the world without 
running any risk. After so sincere a confession he either 
presented to her a copy of verses, or a new song, in which 
whoever dared to come in competition in any respect with 
Miss Temple was laid prostrate before her charms, most 
humbly to solicit pardon : such flattering insinuations so 
completely turned her head that it was a pity to see her. 

The duchess took notice of it, and well knowing the extent 
of both their geniuses, she saw the precipice into which the 
poor girl was running headlong without perceiving it ; but as 
it is no less dangerous to forbid a connection that is not yet 
thought of, than it is difficult to put an end to one that is 
already well established. Miss Hobart was charged to take 
care, with all possible discretion, that these frequent and long 
conversations might not be attended with any dangerous con- 
sequences : with pleasure she accepted the commission, and 
greatly flattered herself with success. 

She had already made all necessary advances to gain pos- 
session of her confidence and friendship ; and Miss Temple, 
less suspicious of her than of Lord Eochester, made all 
imaginable returns. She was greedy of praise, and loved all 
manner of sweetmeats, as much as a child of nine or ten 
years old : her taste was gratified in both these respects. 
Miss Hobart having the superintendence of the duchess's 
baths, her apartment joined them, in which there was a closet 
stored with all sorts of sweetmeats and liqueurs : the closet 
suited Miss Temple's taste, as exactly as it gratified Miss 
Hobart's inclination, to have something that could allure her. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 251 

Summer, being now returned, brought back with it the 
pleasures and diversions that are its inseparable attendants. 
One day, when the ladies had been taking the air on horse- 
back, Miss Temple, on her return from riding, alighted at 
Miss Hobart's, in order to recover her fatigue at the expense 
of the sweetmeats, which she knew were there at her service ; 
but before she began she desired Miss Hobart's permission to 
undress herself, and change her linen in her apartment ; which 
request was immediately complied with : " I was just going 
to propose it to you," said Miss Hobart, " not but that you 
are as charming as an angel in your riding habit ; but there 
is nothing so comfortable as a loose dress, and being at one's 
ease : you cannot imagine, my dear Temple," continued she, 
embracing her, " how much you oblige me by this free un- 
ceremonious conduct; but, above all, I am enchanted with 
your particular attention to cleanliness: how greatly you 
differ in this, as in many other things, from that silly creature 
Jennings ! Have you remarked how all our court fops admire 
her for her brilliant complexion, which perhaps, after all, is 
not wholly her own ; and for blunders, which are truly original, 
and which they are such fools as to mistake for wit : I have 
not conversed with her long enough to perceive in what her 
wit consists ; but of this I am certain, that if it is not better 
than her feet, it is no great matter. What stories have I 
heard of her sluttishness ! 1:^0 cat ever dreaded water so 
much as she does : fie upon h^r ! Il^ever to wash for her own 
comfort, and only to attend to those parts which must neces- 
sarily be seen, such as the neck and hands." 

. Miss Temple swallowed all this with even greater pleasure 
than the sweetmeats ; and the officious Hobart, not to lose 
time, was helping her off with her clothes, while the chamber- 
maid was coming. She made some objections to this at first, 



252 MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

being unwilling to occasion that trouble to a person, who, 
like Miss Hobart, had been advanced to a place of dignity ; 
but she was overruled by her, and assured that it was with 
the greatest pleasure she showed her that small mark of 
civility. The collation being finished, and Miss Temple un- 
dressed : " Let us retire," said Miss Hobart, " to the bathing- 
closet, where we may enjoy a little conversation secure from 
any impertinent visit." Miss Temple consented, and both of 
them sitting down on a couch : " You are too young, my dear 
Temple," said she, " to know the baseness of men in general, 
and too short a time acquainted with the court to know the 
character of its inhabitants. I will give you a short sketch 
of the principal persons, to the best of my knowledge, without 
injury to any one ; for I abominate the trade of scandal. 

" In the first place, then, you ought to set it down as an 
undoubted fact that all courtiers are deficient either in honesty, 
good sense, judgment, wit, or sincerity ; that is to say, if any 
of them by chance possess some one of these qualities, you 
may depend upon it he is defective in the rest : sumptuous in 
their equipages, deep play, a great opinion of their own merit, 
and contempt of that of others, are their chief characteristics. 

" Interest or pleasure are the motives of all their actions : 
those who are led by the first would seU God Almighty, as 
Judas sold his Master, and that for less money. I could relate 
you a thousand noble instances of this, if I had time. As for 
the sectaries of pleasure, or those who pretend to be such, for 
they are not all so bad as they endeavour to make themselves 
appear, these gentlemen pay no manner of regard either to 
promises, oaths, law, or religion; that is to say, they are 
literally no respecters of persons ; they care neither for God nor 
man, if they can but gain their ends. They look upon maids 
of honour only as amusements, placed expressly at court for 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT, 25^ 

their entertainment ; and the more merit any one has, the more 
she is exposed to their impertinence, if she gives any ear to 
them ; and to their malicious calumnies, when she ceases to 
attend to them. As for husbands, this is not the place to find 
them ; for unless money or caprice make up the match, there 
is but little hopes of being married : virtue and beauty in this 
respect here are equally useless. Lady Falmouth is the only 
instance of a maid of honour well married without a portion ; 
and if you were to ask her poor weak husband for what reason 
he married her, I am persuaded that he can assign none, unless 
it be her great red ears and broad feet. As for the pale Lady 
Yarborough, who appeared so proud of her match, she is wife, 
to be sure, of a great country bumpkin, who, the very week 
after their marriage, bid her take her farewell of the town for 
ever, in consequence of five or six thousand pounds a year he 
enjoys on the borders of Cornwall. Alas ! poor Miss Blague I 
I saw her go away about this time twelvemonth, in a coach 
with four such lean horses, that I cannot believe she is yet 
half way to her miserable little castle. What can be the 
matter ! all the girls seem afflicted with the rage of wedlock, 
and however small their portion of charms may be, they think 
it only necessary to show themselves at court in order to pick 
and choose their men : but was this in reality the case, the 
being a wife is the most wretched condition imaginable for a 
person of nice sentiments. Believe me, my dear Temple, the 
pleasures of matrimony are so inconsiderable in comparison 
with its inconveniences, that I cannot imagine how any reason- 
able creature can resolve upon it : rather fly, therefore, from 
this irksome engagement than court it. Jealousy, formerly 
a stranger to these happy isles, is now coming into fashion, 
with many recent examples of which you are acquainted. 
However brilliant the phantom may appear, suffer not yourself 



254 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

to be caught by its splendour, and never be so weak as to 
transform your slave into your tjrrant : as long as you preserve 
your own liberty, you will be mistress of tliat of others. I 
will relate to you a very recent proof of the perfidy of man to 
our sex, and of the impunity they experience in all attempts 
upon our innocence. The Earl of Oxford fell in love with a 
handsome, graceful actress belonging to the duke's theatre,* 
who performed to perfection, particularly the part of Eoxana, 
in a very fashionable new play, insomuch that she ever after 
retained that name : this creature being both very virtuous 
and very modest, or, if you please, wonderfully obstinate, 
proudly rejected the addresses and presents of the Earl of 
Oxford. This resistance inflamed his passion : he had recourse 
to invectives, and even to spells ; but all in vain. This disap- 
pointment had such effect upon him that he could neither 
eat nor drink ; this did not signify to him; but his passion 

t This was Aubrey de Vere, the last Earl of Oxford of that name, 
and the twentieth and last earl of that family. He was chief justice 
in eyre ; and in the reign of Charles II. lord of the bed-chamber, privy 
councillor, colonel of the royal regiment of horse guards, and lord- 
lieutenant of the county of Essex ; and lieutenant-general of the forces 
in the reign of William III., and also knight of the garter. He died 
March 12th, 1702, aged 80 years, and upwards, and was buried in 
Westminster-abbey. The author of a History of the English Stage, 
published by Curl, 1741, 8vo., says, that Mrs. Marshall, a celebrated 
actress, more known by the name of Eoxana, from acting that part, was 
the person deceived by the Earl of Oxford in this manner. The parti- 
culars of the story, as there related, do not materially vary from the 
present account of the transaction. A more detailed narrative of this 
seduction is given in Madame Dunois's Memoirs of the Court of England, 
part 2. p. 71. Mrs. Marshall, who was the original Eoxana in Lee's 
Eival Queens, belonged not to the duke's, but the king's theatre. 
Lord Orford, I know not on what authority, has given the name of 
Mrs. Barker to this lady ; a name totally unknown, I believe, in the 
annals of the stage. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 255 

at length became so violent, that he could neither play nor 
smoke. In this extremity love had recourse to Hymen ; 
the Earl of Oxford, one of the first peers of the realm, 
is, you know, a very handsome man : he is of the order 
of the garter, which greatly adds to an air naturally noble. In 
short, from his outward appearance, you would suppose he was 
really possessed of some sense ; but as soon as ever you hear 
him speak, you are perfectly convinced of the contrary. 
This passionate lover presented her with a promise of mar- 
riage, in due form, signed with his own hand : she would 
not, however, rely upon this, but the next day she thought 
there could be no danger, when the earl himself came 
to her lodgings attended by a clergyman, and another man 
for a witness : the marriage was accordingly solemnized 
with all due ceremonies, in the presence of one of her fellow- 
players, who attended as a witness on her part. You will sup- 
pose, perhaps, that the new countess had nothing, to do but to 
appear at court according to her rank, and to display the earl's 
arms upon her carriage. This was far from being the case. 
"\¥hen examination was made concerning the marriage, it was 
found to be a mere deception : it appeared that the pretended 
priest was one of my lord's trumpeters, and the witness his 
kettle drummer. The parson and his companion never ap- 
peared after the ceremony was over ; and as for tlie other wit- 
ness, they endeavoured to persuade her,thajb the Sultana Eoxana 
might have supposed, in some part or other of a play, that she 
Fas really married. It was all to no purpose, that the poor 
creature claimed the protection of the laws of God and man, 
both which were violated and abused, as well as herself, by 
this infamous imposition : in vain did she throw herself at the 
King's feet to demand justice : she had only to rise up again 
without redress ; and happy might she think herself to receive 



256 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

an annuity of one tliousand crowns, and to resume the name 
of Eoxana, instead of Countess of Oxford. You will say, per- 
haps, that she was only a player ; that all men have not the 
same sentiments as the earl ; and, that one may at least be- 
lieve them, when they do but render justice to such merit as 
yours. But still do not believe them, though I know you are 
liable to it, as you have admirers ; for all are not infatuated 
with Miss Jennings : the handsome Sydney ogles you ; Lord 
Eochester is delighted with your conversation; and the most 

serious Sir Lyttleton forsakes his natural gravity in 

favour of your charms. As for the first, I confess his figure is 
very likely to engage the inclinations of a young person like 
yourself ; but were his outward form attended with other ac- 
complishments, which I know it is not, and that his sentiments 
in your favour were as real as he endeavours to persuade you 
they are, and as you deserve, yet I would not advise you to 
form any connections with him, for reasons which I cannot 
tell you at present. 

" Sir Lyttleton"^ is undoubtedly in earnest, since he 

appears ashamed of the condition to which you have reduced 
him ; and I really believe if he could get the better of those 
vulgar chimerical apprehensions, of being what is vulgarly 
called a cuckold, the good man would marry you, and you 
would be his representative in his little government, where 
you might merrily pass your days in casting up the weekly 
bills of housekeeping, and in darning old napkins. What a 
glory would it be to have a Cato for a husband, whose 
speeches are as many lectures, and whose lectures are com- 
posed of nothing but illnature and censure ! 

" Lord Eochester is, without contradiction, the most witty 
man in all England ; but then he is likewise the most unprin- 
* Sir Charles Lyttelton : of whom see Note on p. 246. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 257 

cipled, and devoid even of the least tincture of honour ; he is 
•dangerous to our sex alone ; and that to such a degree that 
there is not a woman who gives ear to him three times, but 
she irretrievably loses her reputation. N"o woman can escape 
him, for he has her in his writings, though his other attacks 
be ineffectual ; and in the age we live in, the one is as bad as 
the other in the eye of the public. In the mean time nothing 
is more dangerous than the artful insinuating manner with 
which he gains possession of the mind: he applauds your 
taste, submits to your sentiments, and at the very instant that 
he himself does not believe a single word of what he is saying, 
he makes you believe it all. I dare lay a wager, that from the 
conversation you have had with him, you thought him one of 
the most honourable and sincerest men living ; for my part I 
cannot imagine what he means by the assiduity he pays you : 
not but your accomplishments are sufficient to excite the 
adoration and praise of the whole world ; but had he even 
been so fortunate as to have gained your affections, he would 
not know what to do with the loveliest creature at court : for 
it is a long time since his debauches have brought him to 
order, with the assistance of the favours of all the common 
street-walkers. See then, my dear Temple, what horrid malice 
possesses him, to the ruin and confusion of innocence ! A 
wretch ! to have no other design in his addresses and assidu- 
ities to Miss Temple, but to give a greater air of probability 
to the calumnies with which he has loaded her. You look 
upon me with astonishment, and seem to doubt the truth of 
what I advance ; but I do not desire you to believe me with- 
out evidence : ' Here,' said she, drawing a paper out of her 
pocket, ' see what a copy of verses he has made in your praise, 
while he lulls your credulity to rest, by flattering speeches and 
feigned respect.' " 

17 



258 MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

After saying this, the perfidious Hobart showed her half-a- 
dozen couplets full of strained invective and scandal, which 
Eochester had made against the former maids of honour. This 
severe and cutting lampoon was principally levelled against 
Miss Price, whose person he took to pieces in the most frightful 
and liideous manner imaginable. Miss Hobart had substituted 
the name of Temple instead of Price, which she made to agree 
both with the measure and tune of the song. Tliis effectually 
answered Hobart's intentions : the credulous Temple no sooner 
heard her sing the lampoon, but she firmly believed it to be 
made upon herself ; and "i the first transports of her rage, 
having nothing so much at heart as to give the lie to the 
fictions of the poet : " Ah 1 as for this, my dear Hobart," said 
she, "I can bear it no longer: I do not pretend to be so hand- 
some as some others ; but as for the defects that villain charges 
me with, I dare say, my dear Hobart, there is no woman more 
free from them : we are alone, and I am almost inclined to 
convince you by ocular demonstration." Miss Hobart was too 
complaisant to oppose this motion ; but, although she soothed 
her mind by extolling all her beauties, in opposition to Lord 
Eochester's song. Miss Temple was almost driven to distrac- 
tion by rage and astonishment, that the first man she ever 
attended to should, in liis conversation with her, not even 
make use of a single word of truth, but that he should likewise 
have the unparalleled cruelty falsely to accuse her of defects ; 
and not being able to find words capable of expressing her 
anger and resentment, she began to weep like a child. 

Miss Hobart used all her endeavours to comfort her, and 
chid her for being so much hurt with the invectives of a person 
whose scandalous impostures were too well known to make 
any impression : she however advised her never to speak to 
him any more, for that was the only method to disappoint his 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 259 

designs ; that contempt and silence were, on such occasions, 
much preferable to any explanation, and that if he could once 
obtain a hearing, he would be justified, but she would be 
ruined. 

Miss Hobart was not wrong in giving her this counsel : she 
knew that an explanation would betray her, and that there 
would be no quarter for her if Lord Eochester had so fair an 
opportunity of renewing his former panegyrics upon her ; but 
her precaution was in vain : this conversation had been heard 
from one end to the other, by the governess's niece, who was 
blessed with a most faithful memory ; and having that very 
day an appointment with Lord Eochester, she conned it over 
three or four times, that she might not forget one single word, 
when she should have the honour of relating it to her lover. 
We shall show in the next chapter, what were the consequences 
resulting from it. 



17—2 



260 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 



CHAPTER X. 

The conversation "before related was agreeable only to Miss 
Hobart; for if Miss Temple was entertained with its com- 
mencement, she was so mticb the more irritated by its con- 
clusion : this indignation was succeeded by the curiosity of 
knowing the reason why, if Sidney had a real esteem for her, 
she should not be allowed to pay some attention to him. The 
tender-hearted Hobart, unable to refuse her any request, pro- 
mised her this piece of confidence, as soon as she should be 
secure of her conduct towards Lord Rochester : for this she 
only desired a trial of her sincerity for three days, after which 
she assured her, she would acquaint her with everything she 
wished to know. Miss Temple protested she no longer regarded 
Lord Rochester but as a monster of perfidiousness, and vowed, 
by all that was sacred, that she would never listen to him, 
much less speak to him, as long as she lived. 

As soon as they retired from the closet. Miss Sarah came 
out of the bath, where, during all this conversation, she had 
been almost perished with cold, without daring to complain. 
This little gipsy had, it seems, obtained leave of Miss Hobart's 
woman to bathe herself unknown to her mistress ; and having, 
I know not how, found means to fill one of the baths with 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 261 

cold water, Miss Sarah had just got into it, when they were 
both alarmed with the arrival of the other two. A glass par- 
tition enclosed the room where the baths were, and Indian silk 
curtains, which drew on the inside, screened those that were 
bathing. Miss Hobart's chamber-maid had only just time to 
draw these curtains, that the girl might not be seen to lock 
the partition door, and to take away the key, before her mistress 
and Miss Temple came in. 

These two sat down on a couch placed along the partition, 
and Miss Sarah, notwithstanding her alarms, had distinctly 
heard,~and perfectly retained the whole conversation. As the 
little girl was at all this trouble to make herself clean, only on 
Lord Eochester's account, as soon as ever she could make her 
escape she regained her garret ; where Eochester, having re- 
paired thither at the appointed hour, was fully informed of all 
that had passed in the bathing-room. He was astonished at 
the audacious temerity of Hobart, in daring to put such a 
trick upon him ; but, though he rightly judged that love and 
jealousy were the real motives, he would not excuse her. 
Little Sarah desired to know whether he had a real affection 
for Miss Temple, as Miss Hobart said she supposed that was 
the case. " Can you doubt it," replied he, " since that oracle 
of sincerity has af&rmed it ? But then you know that I am 
not now capable of profiting by my perfidy, were I even to 
gain Miss Temple's compliance, since my debauches and the 
street- walkers have brought me to order." 

This answer made Miss Sarah very easy, for she concluded 
that the first article was not true, since she knew from expe- 
rience that the latter was false. Lord Eochester was resolved 
that very evening to attend the duchess's court, to see what 
reception he would meet with after the fine portrait Miss 
Hobart had been so kind as to draw of him. Miss Temple 



262 MEMOIES OF COUNT GKAMMONT. 

did not fail to be there likewise, with the intention of looking^ 
on him with the most contemptuous disdain possible, though 
she had taken care to dress herself as well as she could. 
As she supposed that the lampoon Miss Hobart had sung to 
her was in everybody's possession, she was under great em- 
barrassment lest all those whom she met should think her 
such a monster as Lord Eochester had described her. In the 
mean time, Miss Hobart, who had not much confidence in 
her promises never more to speak to him, narrowly watched 
her. Miss Temple never in her life appeared so handsome : 
every person complimented her upon it ; but she received all 
the civilities with such an air, that every one thought she was 
mad ; for when they commended her shape, her fresh com- 
plexion, and the brilliancy of her eyes : " Pshaw," said she, 
" it is very well known that I am but a monster, and formed in 
no respect like other women : all is not gold that glisters ; and 
though I may receive some compliments in public, it signifies 
nothing." All Miss Hobart's endeavours to stop her tongue 
were ineffectual ; and continuing to rail at herself ironically, 
the whole court was puzzled to comprehend her meaning. 

When Lord Eochester came in, she first blushed, then turned 
pale, made a motion to go towards him, drew back again, pulled 
her gloves one after the other up to the elbow ; and after 
having three times violently flirted her fan, she waited until he 
paid his compliments to her as usual, and as soon as he began 
to bow, the fair one immediately turned her back upon him. 
Eochester only smiled, and being resolved that her resentment 
should be still more remarked, he turned round and posting 
himself face to face : " Madam," said he, " nothing can be so 
glorious as to look so charming as you do, after such a fatiguing 
day: to support a ride of three long hours, and Miss Hobart 
afterwards, without being tired, shows indeed a very strong 
constitution." 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 263 

Miss Temple had naturally a tender look, but she was 
transported with such a violent passion at his having the 
audacity to speak to her, that her eyes appeared like two fire- 
balls when she turned them upon him. Hobart pinched her 
arm, as she perceived that this look was likely to be followed 
by a torrent of reproaches and invectives. 

Lord Eochester did not wait for them, and delaying until 
another opportunity the acknowledgments he owed Miss 
Hobart, he quietly retired. The latter, who could not imagine 
that he knew anything of their conversation at the bath, was, 
however, much alarmed at what he had said ; but Miss 
Temple, almost choked with the reproaches with which she 
thought herself able to confound him and which she had not 
time to give vent to, vowed to ease her mind of them upon the 
first opportunity, notwithstanding the promise she had made; 
but never more to speak to him afterwards. 

Lord Eochester had a faithful spy near these nymphs : this 
was Miss Sarah, who, by his advice, and with her aunt's 
consent, was reconciled with Miss Hobart, the more effectually 
to betray her : he was informed by this spy, that Miss Hobart's 
maid, being suspected of having listened to them in the closet, 
had been turned away ; that she had taken another, whom in 
all probability, she would not keep long, because, in the first 
place, she was ugly, and, in the second, she eat the sweetmeats 
that were prepared for Miss Temple. Although this intelli- 
gence was not very material, Sarah was nevertheless praised 
for her punctuality and attention ; and a few days afterwards 
she brought him news of real importance. 

Eochester was by her informed, that Miss Hobart and her 
new favourite designed, about nine o'clock in the evening to 
walk in the Mall, in the Park ; that they were to change 
clothes with each other, to put on scarfs, and wear black 



264 MEMOIES OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 

masks : slie added, that Miss Hobart had strongly opposed 
this project, but that she was obliged to give way at last, Liiss 
Temple having resolved to indulge her fancy. 

Upon the strength oi this intelligence, Eochester concerted 
liis measures : he went to Killegrew, complained to liim of 
the trick which Miss Hobart had played him, and desired his 
assistance in order to be revenged : this was readily gxanted, 
and having acquainted him witli the measures he intended to 
pursue, and given him the part he was to act in this adven- 
ture, they went to the Mall. 

Presently after appeared our two nymphs in masquerade ; 
their shapes were not very different, and their faces, which 
were very imlike each other, were concealed with their masks. 
The company was but thin in the Park ; and as soon as Miss 
Temple perceived them at a distance, she quickened her pace 
in order to join them, with the design, under her disguise,, 
severely to reprimand the perfidious Eochester ; when Miss 
Hobart stopping her : " Where are you running to ?" said she ; 
" have you a mind to engage in conversation with these two 
devils, to be exposed to all the insolence and impertinence for 
wliich they are so notorious ?" These remonstrances were 
entirely useless : Miss Temple was resolved to try the expe- 
riment : and all that could be obtained from her, was, not to 
answer any of the questions Eochester might ask her. 

They were accosted just as they had done speaking : Eoches- 
ter fixed upon Hobart, pretending to take her for the other ; at 
which she was overjoyed ; but Miss Temple was extremely 
sorry she fell to Killegrew's share, with whom she had notliing 
to do : he perceived her uneasiness, and, pretending to know 
her by her clothes : "Ah ! Miss Hobart," said he, " be so kind 
as look this way if you please : I know not by what chance 
you both came hither, but I am sure it is very apropos fo7 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 265 

you, since I have something to say to you, as your friend and 
humble servant." 

This beginning raising her curiosity, Miss Temple appeared 
more inclined to attend him ; and Killegrew perceiving that 
the other couple had insensibly proceeded some distance from 
them : " In the name of God," said he : " what do you mean 
by railing so against Lord Eochester, whom you know to be 
one of the most honourable men at court, and whom you 
nevertheless described as the greatest villain, to the person 
whom of all others he esteems and respects the most ? What 
do you think would become of you, if he knew that you made 
Miss Temple believe she is the person alluded to in a certain 
song, which you know as well as myself was made upon the 
clumsy Miss Price, above a year before the fair Temple was 
heard of ? Be not surprised that I know so much of the 
matter ; but pay a little attention, I pray you, to what I am 
now going to tell you out of pure friendship : your passion 
and inclinations for Miss Temple are known to every one but 
herself; for whatever methods you used to impose upon her in- 
nocence, the world does her the justice to believe that she would 
treat you as Lady Falmouth did, if the poor girl knew the 
wicked designs you had upon her : I caution you, therefore,, 
against making any farther advances, to a person, too modest 
to listen to them: I advise you likewise to take back your 
maid again, in order to silence her scandalous tongue ; for she 
says everywhere, that she is with child, that you are the 
occasion of her being in that condition, and accuses you of 
behaving towards her with the blackest ingratitude, upon 
trifling suspicions only : you know very well, these are no 
stories of my own invention ; but that you may not entertain 
any manner of doubt, that I had all this from her own mouth,, 
she has told me your conversation in the bathing-room, the 



266 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

characters you there drew of the principal men at court, your 
artful malice in applying so improperly a scandalous song to 
one of the loveliest women in all England ; and in what 
manner the innocent girl fell into the snare you had laid for 
her, in order to do justice to her charms. But that which 
might be of the most fatal consequences to you in that long 
conversation, is the revealing certain secrets, which, in all 
probability, the duchess did not entrust you with, to be 
imparted to the maids of honour : reflect upon this, and neg- 
lect not to make some reparation to Sir Lyttleton, for 

the ridicule with which you were pleased to load him. I 
know not whether he had his information from your femme- 
de-chambre, but I am very certain that he has sworn he will 
be revenged, and he is a man that keeps his word ; for after 
all, that you may not be deceived by his look, like that of a 
Stoic, and his gravity, like that of a judge, I must acquaint 
you, that he is the most passionate man living. Indeed, these 
invectives are of the blackest and most horrible nature : he 
says it is most infamous, that a wretch like yourself should 
find no other employment than to blacken the characters of 
gentlemen, to gratify your jealousy ; that if you do not desist 
from such conduct for the future, he will immediately com- 
plain of you ; and that if her royal highness will not do him 
justice, he is determined to do himseK justice, and to run you 
through the body with his own sword, though you were even 
in the arms of Miss Temple ; and that it is most scandalous 
that all the maids of honour should get into your hands before 
they can look around them. 

" These things, madam, I thought it my duty to acquaint 
you with : you are better able to judge than myself, whether 
what I have now advanced be true, and I leave it to your 
own discretion to make what use you think proper of my 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 267 

^advice ; but were I in your situation, I would endeavour to 
reconcile Lord Eochester and Miss Temple. Once more I 
recommend to you to take care that your endeavours to mis- 
lead her innocency, in order to blast his honour, may not 
come to his knowledge ; and do not estrange from her a man 
who tenderly loves her, and whose probity is so great, that 
he would not even suffer his eyes to wander towards her, if 
his intention was not to make her his wife." 

Miss Temple observed her promise most faithfully during 
this discourse : she did not even utter a single syllable, being 
seized with such astonishment and confusion, that she quite 
lost the use of her tongue. 

Miss Hobart and Lord Eochester came up to her, while she 
was still in amazement at the wonderful discoveries she had 
made ; things in themselves, in her opinion, almost incredible, 
but to the truth of which she could not refuse her assent, 
upon examining the evidences and circumstances on which 
they were founded. Never, was confusion equal to that with 
which her whole frame was seized by the foregoing recital. 

Eochester and Killegrew took leave of them before she 
recovered from her surprise ; but as soon as she had regained 
the free use of her senses, she hastened back to St. James, 
without answering a single question that the other put to 
her ; and having locked herself up in her chamber, the first 
thing she did, was immediately to strip off Miss Hobart's 
clothes, lest she should be contaminated by them ; for after 
what she had been told concerning her, she looked upon her 
as a monster, dreadful to the innocence of the fair sex, of 
whatever sex she might be : she blushed at the familiarities 
she had been drawn into with a creature, whose maid was 
with child, though she never had been in any other service 
lout hers : she therefore returned her all her clothes, ordered 



268 MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

lier servant to bring back all lier own, and resolved never 
more to have any connection mtli lier. Miss Hobart, on the 
other hand, who supposed Killegrew had mistaken Miss 
Temple for herself, could not comprehend what could induce 
her to give herself such surprising airs, since that conver- 
sation ; but being desirous to come to an explanation, she 
ordered Miss Temple's maid to remain in her apartments, and 
went to call upon Miss Temple herself, instead of sending 
back her clothes ; and being desirous to give her some proof 
of friendship before they entered upon expostulations, she 
slipt softly into her chamber, when she was in the very act 
of changing her linen, and embraced her. Miss Temple 
finding herself in her arms before she had taken notice of 
her, everything that Killegrew had mentioned, appeared to 
her imagination : she fancied that she saw in her looks the 
eagerness of a satyr, or, if possible, of some monster still 
more odious ; and disengaging herself with the highest in- 
dignation from her arms, she began to shriek and cry in the 
most terrible manner, calling both heaven and earth to her 
assistance. 

The first whom her cries raised were the governess and 
her niece. It was near twelve o'clock at night : Miss Temple 
in her shift, almost frightened to death, was pushing back 
with horror Miss Hobart, who approached her with no other 
intent than to know the occasion of those transports. As 
soon as the governess saw this scene, she began to lecture 
Miss Hobart with all the eloquence of a real duenna : she 
demanded of her, whether she thought it was for her that her 
royal highness kept the maids of honour ? whether she was 
not ashamed to come at such an unseasonable time of night 
into their very apartments to commit such violences ? and 
swore that she would, the very next day, complain to the 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 269 

duchess. All this confirmed Miss Temple in her mistaken 
notions : and Hobart was obliged to go away at last, without 
being able to convince or bring to reason creatures, whom she 
believed to be either distracted or mad. The next day Miss 
Sarah did not fail to relate this adventure to her lover, 
telling him how Miss Temple's cries had alarmed the maids 
of honour's apartment, and how herself and her aunt, run- 
ning to her assistance, had almost surprised Miss Hobart in 
the very act. 

Two days after, the whole adventure, with the addition of 
several embellishments, was made public : the governess 
swore to the truth of it, and related in every company what 
Si narrow escape Miss Temple had experienced, and that 
Miss Sarah, her niece, had preserved her honour, because, by 
Lord Eochester's excellent advice, she had forbidden her all 
manner of connection with so dangerous a person. Miss Tem- 
ple was afterwards informed, that the song that had so greatly 
provoked her, alluded to Miss Price only : this was confirmed 
to her by every person, with additional execrations against 
Miss Hobart, for such a scandalous imposition. Such great 
coldness after so much familiarity, made many believe, that 
this adventure was not altogether a fiction. 

This had been sufficient to have disgraced Miss Hobart at 
court, and to have totally ruined her reputation in London, 
had she not been, upon the present, as well as upon a former 
occasion, supported by the duchess : her royal highness pre- 
tended to treat the whole story as romantic and visionary, or 
as solely arising from private pique : she chid Miss Temple, 
for her impertinent credulity : turned away the governess and 
her niece, for the lies with which she pretended they sup- 
ported the imposture ; and did many improper things in order 
to re-establish Miss Hobart's honour, which, however, slie 



270 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

failed in accomplishing. She had her reasons for not entirely 
abandoning her, as will appear in the sequel. 

Miss Temple, who continually reproached herself with in- 
justice, with respect to Lord Eochester, and who, upon the 
faith of Killegrew's word, thought him the most honourable 
man in England, was only solicitous to find out some oppor- 
tunity of easing her mind, by making him some reparation 
for the rigour with which she had treated him : these favour- 
able dispositions, in the hands of a man of his character,, 
might have led to consequences of which she was not aware ; 
but heaven did not allow him an opportunity of profiting by 
them. 

Ever since he had first appeared at court he seldom failed 
being banished from it, at least once in the year ; for when- 
ever a word presented itself to his pen, or to his tongue, he 
immediately committed it to paper, or produced it in conver- 
sation, without any manner of regard to the consequences : 
the ministers, the mistresses, and even the king himself, were 
frequently the subjects of his sarcasms; and had not the 
prince, whom he thus treated, been possessed of one of the 
most forgiving and gentle tempers, his first disgrace had cer- 
tainly been his last. 

Just at the time that Miss Temple was desirous of seeing 
him, in order to apologize for the uneasiness which the in- 
famous calumnies and black aspersions of Miss Hobart had 
occasioned both of them, he was forbid the court for the third 
time : he departed without having seen Miss Temple, carried 
the disgraced governess down with him to his country seat, 
and exerted aU his endeavours to cultivate in her niece some 
dispositions which she had for the stage ; but though she did 
not make the same improvement in this line, as she had by 
his other instructions, after he had entertained both the niece 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 271 

and the aunt for some months in the, country, he got her 
entered in the king's company of comedians the next winter ;. 
and the public was obliged to him for the prettiest, but at the 
same time, the worst actress in the kingdom.* 

* Though no name is given to this lady, there are circumstances 
enough mentioned to fix on the celebrated Mrs. Barry, as the person 
intended by the author. Mrs. Barry was introduced to the stage by 
Lord Eochester, with whom she had an intrigue, the fruit of which was 
a daughter, who lived to the age of thirteen years, and is often men- 
tioned in his collection of love-letters, printed in his works, which were 
written to Mrs. Barry. On her first theatrical attempts, so little hopes 
were entertained of her, that she was, as Gibber declares, discharged the 
company at the end of the first year, among others that were thought 
to be a useless expense to it. She was well born ; being daughter of 
Robert Barry, Esq., barrister at law ; a gentleman of an ancient family 
and good estate, who hurt his fortune by his attachment to Charles I. ; 
for whom he raised a regiment at his own expense. Tony Aston, in his 
Supplement to Gibber's Apology, says, she was woman to lady Shelton 
of Norfolk, who might have belonged to the court. Curl, however, says, 
she was early taken under the patronage of Lady Davenant. Both these 
accounts may be true. The time of her appearance on the stage was 
probabl}^ not much earlier that 1671 ; in which year she performed in 
Tom Essence, and was, it may be conjectured, about the age of nineteen. 
Curl mentions the great pains taken by Lord Eochester in instructing 
her ; which were repaid by the rapid progress she daily made in her 
profession. She at last eclipsed all her competitors, and in the part of 
Monimia established her reputation. From her performance in this- 
character, in that of Belvidera, and of Isabella, in the Fatal Marriage, 
Downes says she acquired the name of the famous Mrs. Barry, both at 
court and in the city. " Mrs. Barry," says Dryden, in his Preface to 
Gleomenes^ "always excellent, has in this tragedy excelled herself, and 
gained a reputation beyond any woman I have ever seen on the 
theatre." " In characters of greatness," says Gibber, " Mrs. Barry had 
a presence of elevated dignity ; her mien and motion superb, and grace- 
fully majestic ; her voice full, clear, and strong ; so that no violence of 
passion could be too much for her ; and when distress or tenderness 
possessed her, she subsided into the most affecting melody and softness. 
In the art of exciting pity, she had a power beyond all the actresses I 
have yet seen, or what your imagination can conceive. In scenes of 



212 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

About this time Talbot returned from Ireland : he soon felt 
the absence of Miss Hamilton, who was then in the country 
with a relation, whom we shall mention hereafter. A rem- 
nant of his former tenderness still subsisted in his heart, not- 
withstanding his absence, and the promises he had given the 
€hevalier de Grammont at parting: he now therefore en- 
deavoured to banish her entirely from his thoughts, by fixing 
his desires upon some other object; but he saw no one in the 
queen's new court whom he thought worthy of his attention : 



anger, defiance, or resentment, while she was impetuous and terrible, 
she poured out the sentiment witli an enchanting harmony ; and it was 
this particular excellence for which Dryden made her the above-recited 
compliment, upon her acting Cassandra in his Cleomenes. She was the 
first person whose merit was distinguished by the indulgence of having 
an annual benefit play, which was granted to her alone in King James's 
time, and which did not become common to others till the division of 
this company, after the death of King "William and Queen Mary/' — 
Cibher's Apology^ 1750, p. 133. Tony Aston says, " she was not hand- 
some : her mouth opening most on the right side, which she strove to 
draw t'other way ; and at times composing her face, as if sitting for 
her picture : she was," he adds, " middle-sized ; had darkish hair, light 
eyes, and was indiiferently plump. In tragedy, she was solemn and 
august ; in comedy, alert, easy, and genteel ; pleasant in her face and 
action ; filling the stage with variety of gesture. She could neither sing 
nor dance ; no, not in a country dance." — Supplement to Gibber, p. 7. 
The printed letters in Otway's works are generally supposed to have 
been addressed to her. She adhered to Betterton in all the revolutions 
of the theatre, which she quitted about 1708, on account of her health. 
The last new character, of any consequence, which she performed, seems 
to have been Phsedra, in Mr. Smith's tragedy. She returned, however, 
for one night, with Mrs. Bracegirdle, April 7, 1709 ; and performed 
Mrs. Frail, in Love for Love, for Mr. Betterton's benefit ; and afterwards 
spoke an occasional epilogue, written by Mr. Eowe. She died 7th 
November, 1713, and was buried at Acton. The inscription over her 
remains says she was 55 years of age. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 273 

Miss Boynton,* however, thought him worthy of hers. Her 
person was slender and delicate, to which a good complexion 
and large motionless eyes gave at a distance an appearance 
of beauty, that vanished upon nearer inspection : she affected 
to lisp, to languish, and to have two or three fainting-fits a 
day. The first time that Talbot cast his eyes upon her she 
was seized with one of these fits : he was told that she swooned 
away upon his account : he believed it, was eager to afford 
her assistance ; and ever after that accident showed her some 
kindness, more with the intention of saving her life, than to 
express any affection he felt for her. This seeming tenderness 
was well received, and at first she was visibly affected by it. 
Talbot was one of the tallest men in England, and in all 
appearance one of the most robust; yet she showed suffi- 
ciently that she was willing to expose the delicacy of her 
constitution, to whatever might happen, in order to become 
his wife ; which event perhaps might then have taken place, 
as it did afterwards, had not the charms of the fair Jennings 
at that time, proved an obstacle to her wishes. 

I know not how it came to pass that he had not yet seen 
her ; though he had heard her much praised, and her prudence, 
wit, and vivacity equally commended; he believed all this 
upon the faith of common report. He thought it very sin- 
gular that discretion and sprightliness should be so intimately 
united in a person so young, more particularly in the midst 
of a court where love and gallantry were so much in fashion ; 
but he found her personal accomplishments greatly to exceed 
whatever fame had reported of them. 

As it was not long before he perceived he was in love, 

* Daughter of Matthew Boynton, second son of Sir Matthew Boyn- 
ton of Barmston, in Yorkshire. The sister of this lady married the 
celebrated Earl of Koscommon. 

18 



274 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

neitlier was it long before lie made a declaration of it : as his 
passion was likely enongii to be real, Miss Jennings thought 
she might believe him, without exposing herself to the im- 
putation of vanity. Talbot was possessed of a fine and 
brilliant exterior, his manners were noble and majestic : be- 
sides this, he was particularly distinguished by the favour and 
friendship of the duke ; but his most essential merit, with her, 
was his forty thousand pounds a-year, landed property, besides 
his employments. All these qualities came within the rules 
and maxims she had resolved to follow with respect to lovers : 
thus, though he had not the satisfaction to obtain from her an 
entire declaration of her sentiments, he had at least the plea- 
sure of being better received than those who had paid their 
addresses to her before him. 

'No person attempted to interrupt his happiness ; and Miss 
Jennings, perceiving that the duchess approved of Talbot's 
pretensions, and after having well weighed the matter, and 
consulted her own inclinations, found that her reason was 
more favourable to him than her heart, and that the most she 
could do for his satisfaction was to marry him without re- 
luctance. 

Talbot, too fortunate in a preference which no man had 
before experienced, did not examine whether it was to her 
heart or to her head that he was indebted for it, and his 
thoughts were solely occupied in hastening the accomplish- 
ment of his wishes : one would have sworn that the happy 
minute was at hand ; but love would no longer be love, if he 
did not delight in obstructing, or in overturning the happiness 
of those who live under his dominion. 

Talbot, who found nothing reprehensible either in the person, . 
in the conversation, or in the reputation of Miss Jennings, was 
however rather concerned at a new acquaintance she had 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 275 

lately formed ; and having taken upon him to give her some 
cautions upon this subject, she was much displeased at his 
conduct. 

Miss Price, formerly maid of honour, that had been set 
aside, as we have before mentioned, upon her leaving the 
duchess's service, had recourse to Lady Castlemaine's protec- 
tion : she had a very entertaining wit : her complaisance was 
adapted to all humours, and her own humour was possessed of 
a fund of gaiety and sprightliness which diffused universal 
mirth and merriment wherever she came. Her acquaintance 
with Miss Jennings was prior to Talbot's. 

As she was thoroughly acquainted with all the intrigues of 
the court, she related them without any manner of reserve to 
Miss Jennings, and her own with the same frankness as the 
others : Miss Jennings was extremely well pleased with her 
stories ; for though she was determined to make no experiment 
in love, but upon honourable terms, she however was desirous 
of knowing from her recitals, all the different intrigues that 
were carrying on : thus, as she was never wearied with her 
conversation, she was overjoyed whenever she could see her. 

Talbot, who remarked the extreme relish she had for Miss 
Price's company, thought that the reputation such a woman 
had in the world might prove injurious to his mistress, more 
especially from the particular intimacy there seemed to exist 
between them : whereupon, in the tone of a guardian rather 
than a lover, he took upon him to chide her for the disre- 
putable company she kept. Miss Jennings was haughty be- 
yond conception, when once she took it into her head ; and as 
she liked Miss Price's conversation much better than Talbot's, 
she took the liberty of desiring him "to attend to his own affairs, 
and that if he only came from Ireland to read lectures about 
her conduct, he might take the trouble to go back as soon as 

18—2 



276 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

he pleased." He was offended at a sally which he thought 
ill-timed, considering the situation of affairs between them ; 
and went out of her presence more abruptly than became the 
respect due from a man greatly in love. He for some time 
appeared offended ; but perceiving that he gained nothing by 
such conduct, he grew weary of acting that part, and assumed 
that of an humble lover, in which he was equally unsuccessful; 
neither his repentance nor submissions could produce any 
effect upon her, and the mutinous little gipsy was still in her 
pouts when Jermyn returned to court. 

It was above a year since he had triumphed over the weak- 
ness of Lady Castlemaine, and above two since the king had 
been weary of his triumphs : his uncle, being uue of the first 
who perceived the king's disgust, obliged him to absent him- 
self from court, at the very time that orders were going 
to be issued for that purpose; for though the king's affections 
for Lady Castlemaine were now greatly diminished, yet he did 
not think it consistent with his dignity that a mistress, whom 
he had honoured with public distinction, and who still received 
a considerable support from him, should appear chained to the 
car of the most ridiculous conqueror that ever existed. His 
majesty had frequently expostulated with the countess upon 
this subject : but his expostulations were never attended to ; it 
was in one of these differences that he, advising her rather to 
bestow her favours upon Jacob Hall, the rope-dancer, who was 
able to return them, than lavish away her money upon Jermyn 
to no purpose, since it would be more honourable for her to 
pass for the mistress of the first, than for the very humble 
servant of the other, she was not proof against his raillery. 
The impetuosity of her temper broke forth like lightning : she 
told him " that it very ill became him to throw out such re- 










JTJ'.Jeiy I. 



I^JEILT., {V^'Y^ 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 277 

proaches against one, who, of all the women in England, de- 
served them the least ; that he had never ceased quarrelling 
thus unjustly with her, ever since he had betrayed his own 
mean low inclinations ; that to gratify such a depraved taste 
as his, he wanted only such silly things as Stewart, Wells, and 
that pitiful strolling actress,^ whom he had lately introduced 
into their society." Moods of tears, from rage, generally attended 
these storms ; after which, resuming the part of Medea, the 
scene closed with menaces of tearing her children in pieces, 
and setting his palace on fire. What course could he pursue 
with such an outrageous fury, who, beautiful as she was, 
resembled Medea less than her dragons, when she was thus 
enraged ! 

The indulgent monarch loved peace ; and as he seldom 
contended for it on these occasions without paying something 
to obtain it, he was obliged to be at great expense, in order to 
reconcile this last rupture : as they could not agree of them- 
selves, and both parties equally complained, the Chevalier de 
Grammont was chosen, by mutual consent, mediator of the 
treaty. The grievances and pretensions on each side were 
communicated to him, and what is very extraordinary, he 
managed so as to please them both. Here follow the articles 
of peace, which they agreed to : 

" That Lady Castlemaine should for ever abandon Jermyn ; 
that as a proof of her sincerity, and the reality of his disgrace, 
she should consent to his being sent, for some time, into the 
country; that she should not rail any more against Miss 
Wells, nor storm any more against Miss Stewart ; and this 
without any restraint on the king's behaviour towards her : 
that in consideration of these condescensions, his majesty 
* Probably Nell Gwyn. 



278 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

should immediately give her the title of duchess,"^ with all 
the honours and privileges thereunto belonging, and an 
addition to her pension, in order to enable her to support 
the dignity." 

As soon as this peace was proclaimed, the political critics, 
who, in all nations, never fail to censure all state proceedings, 
pretended that the mediator of this treaty, being every day at 
play with Lady Castlemaine, and never losing, had, for his 
own sake, insisted a little too strongly upon this last article. 

Some days after, she was created Duchess of Cleveland, 
and little Jermyn repaired to his country-seat : however, it 
was in his power to have returned in a fortnight; for the 
Chevalier de Grammont, having procured the king's per- 
mission, carried it to the Earl of St. Alban's : this revived the 
good old man ; but it was to little purpose he transmitted 
it to his nephew ; for whether he wished to make the London 
beauties deplore and lament his absence, or whether he 
wished them to declaim against the injustice of the age, or 
rail against the tyranny of the prince, he continued above 
half a year in the country, setting up for a little philosopher, 
under the eyes of the sportsmen in the neighbourhood, v/ho 
regarded him as an extraordinary instance of the caprice of 
fortune. He thought the part he acted so glorious, that he 
would have continued there much longer had he not heard of 
Miss Jennings : he did not, however, pay much attention to 
what his friends wrote to him concerning her charms, being 
persuaded he had seen equally as great in others : what was 
related to him of her pride and resistance, appeared to him of 
far greater consequence ; and to subdue the last, he even 
looked upon as an action worthy of his prowess ; and quitting 

* The title of Duchess of Cleveland was conferred on her 3rd August, 
22 Charles II., 1670. 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 279 

his retreat for this purpose, he arrived in London at the time 
that Talbot, who was really in love, had quarrelled, in his 
opinion, so unjustly with Miss Jennings. 

She had heard Jermyn spoken of as a hero in affairs of love 
and gallantry. Miss Price, in the recital of those of the 
Duchess of Cleveland, had often mentioned him, without in 
any respect diminishing the insignificancy with which fame 
insinuated he had conducted himself in those amorous en- 
counters : she nevertheless had the greatest curiosity to see a 
man, whose entire person, she thought, must be a moving tro- 
phy, and monument of the favours and freedoms of the 
fair sex. 

Thus Jermyn arrived at the right time to satisfy her curiosity 
by his presence ; and though his brilliancy appeared a little 
tarnished by his residence in the country ; though his head 
was larger, and his legs more slender than usual, yet the giddy 
girl thought she had never seen any man so perfect ; and 
yielding to her destiny, she fell in love with him, a thousand 
times more unaccountably than all the others had done before 
her. Everybody remarked this change of conduct in her with 
surprise ; for they expected something more from the delicacy 
of a person who, till this time, had behaved with so much pro- 
priety in all her actions. 

Jermyn was not in the least surprised at this conquest, 
though not a little proud of it ; for his heart had very soon as 
great a share in it as his vanity. Talbot, who saw with amaze- 
ment the rapidity of this triumph, and the disgrace of his own 
defeat, was ready to die with jealousy and spite ; yet he thought 
it would be more to his credit to die than to vent those passions 
unprofitably ; and shielding himself under a feigned indiffer- 
ence, he kept at a distance to view how far such an extrava- 
gant prepossession would proceed. 



280 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

In the mean time Jermyn quietly enjoyed the happiness of 
seeing the inclinations of the prettiest and most extraordinary 
creature in England declared in his favour. The duchess, 
who had taken her under her protection ever since she had 
declined placing herself under that of the duke, sounded Jer- 
myn's intentions towards her, and was satisfied with the 
assurances she received from a man, whose probity infinitely 
exceeded his merit in love : he therefore let all the court see 
that he was willing to marry her, though, at the same time, 
he did not appear particularly desirous of hastening the con- 
summation. Every person now complimented Miss Jennings 
upon having reduced to this situation the terror of husbands, 
and the plague of lovers : the court was in full expectation of 
this miracle, and Miss Jennings of a near approaching happy 
settlement : but in this world one must have fortune in one's 
favour, before one can calculate with certainty upon happiness. 

The king did not use to let Lord Eochester remain so long 
in exile : he grew weary of it, and being displeased that he 
was forgotten, he posted up to London to wait till it might be 
his majesty's pleasure to recall him. 

He first took up his habitation in the city, among the 
capital tradesmen and rich merchants, where politeness indeed 
is not so much cultivated as at court ; but where pleasure, 
luxury, and abundance reign with less confusion, and more 
sincerity. His first design was only to be initiated into the 
mysteries of those fortunate and happy inhabitants : that is to 
say, by changing his name and dress, to gain admittance to 
their feasts and entertainments ; and, as occasion offered, to 
those of their loving spouses ; as he was able to adapt himself 
to all capacities and humours, he soon deeply insinuated him- 
self into the esteem of the substantial wealthy aldermen, and 
into the affections of their more delicate, magnificent, and 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 281 

tender ladies : he made one in all their feasts, and at all their 
assemblies ; and, whilst in the company of the husbands, he 
declaimed against the faults and mistakes of government, he 
joined their wives in railing against the profligacy of the court 
ladies, and in inveighing against the king's mistresses : he 
agreed with them, that the industrious poor were to pay for 
these cursed extravagances ; that the city beauties were not 
inferior to those of the other end of the town, and yet a sober 
husband in this quarter of the town was satisfied with one 
wife ; after which, to out-do their murmurings, he said, that 
he wondered Whitehall was not yet consumed by fire from 
heaven, since such rakes as Eochester, Killegrew, and Sidney 
were suffered there, who had the impudence to assert that all 
married men in the city were cuckolds, and all their wives 
painted. This conduct endeared him so much to the cits, 
and made him so welcome at their clubs, that at last he grew 
sick of their cramming and endless invitations. 

But, instead of approaching nearer the court, he retreated 
into one of the most obscure corners of the city : where, again 
changing both his name and his dress, in order to act a new 
part, he caused bills to be dispersed, giving notice of " The 
recent arrival of a famous German doctor,* who, by long ap- 

* Bishop Burnet confirms this account. — " Being under an unlucky 
accident, which obliged him to keep out of the way, he disguised him- 
self so, that his nearest friends could not have known him, and set up in 
Tower Street for an Italian mountebank, where he practised physic for 
some weeks, not without success. In his latter years he read books of 
history more. He took pleasure to disguise himself as a porter, or as a 
beggar; sometimes to follow some mean amours, which, for the variety 
of them, he affected. At other times, merely for diversion, he would go 
about in odd shapes; in which he acted his part so naturally, that even 
those who were in the secret, and saw him in these shapes, could per- 
ceive nothing by which he might he discovered." — Burnet's Life of 
Eochester, ed. 1774, p. 14. 



282 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GKAMMONT. 

plication and experience, had found out wonderful secrets, and 
infallible remedies." His secrets consisted in knowing what 
was past, and foretelling what was to come, by the assistance 
of astrology : and the virtue of liis remedies principally con- 
sisted in giving present relief to unfortunate young women in 
all manner of diseases, and all kinds of accidents incident to 
the fair sex, either from too unbounded charity to their neigh- 
bours, or too great indulgence to themselves. 

His first practice being confined to his neighbourhood, was 
not very considerable ; but his reputation soon extending to 
the other end of the town, there presently flocked to him the 
women attending on the court, next, the chamber-maids of 
ladies of quality, who, upon the wonders they related concern- 
ing the German doctor, were soon followed by some of their 
mistresses. 

Among all the compositions of a ludicrous and satirical 
kind, there never existed any that could be compared to those 
of Lord Eochester, either for humour, fire, or wit ; but, of all 
his works, the most ingenious and entertaining is that which 
contains a detail of the intrigues and adventures in w^hich he 
was engaged while he professed medicine and astrology in the 
suburbs of London. 

The fair Jennings was very near getting a place in this 
collection ; but the adventure that prevented her from it, did 
not, howevever, conceal from the public her intention of pay- 
ing a visit to the German doctor. 

The first chamber-maids that consulted him were only those 
of the maids of honour ; who had numberless questions to ask, 
and not a few doubts to be resolved, both upon their own and 
their mistresses' accounts. Notwithstanding their disguise, he 
recognised some of them, particularly Miss Temple's and Miss 
Price's maids, and her whom Miss Hobart had lately discarded: 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 283 

these creatures all returned either filled with wonder and 
amazement, or petrified with terror and fear. Miss Temple's 
chamber- maid deposed that he assured her she would have the 
small-pox, and her mistress the great, witliin two months at 
farthest, if her aforesaid mistress did not guard against a man 
in woman's clothes. Miss Price's woman affirmed that, with- 
out knowing her, and only looking in her hand, he told her at 
first sight that, according to the course of the stars, he per- 
ceived that she was in the service of some good-natured lady, 
who had no other fault than loving wine and men. In short, 
^very one of them, struck with some particular circumstance 
relating to their own private affairs, had either alarmed or di- 
verted their mistresses with the account, not failing, according 
to custom, to embellish the truth, in order to enhance the 
wonder. 

Miss Price, relating these circumstances one day to her new 
friend, the devil immediately tempted her to go in person, and 
see what sort of a creature this neAV magician was. This en- 
terprise was certainly very rash ; but nothing was too rash for 
Miss Jennings, who was of opinion that a woman might des- 
pise appearances, provided she was in reality virtuous. Miss 
Price was all compliance, and thus having fixed upon this 
glorious resolution, they only thought of the proper means 
of putting it into execution. 

It was very difficult for Miss Jennings to disguise herself, 
on account of her excessive fair and bright complexion, and 
of something particular in her air and manner : however, after 
having well considered the matter, the best disguise they 
could think of was to dress themselves like orange girls.* This 

* These frolics appear to have been not unfrequent with persons of 
high rank at this period. In a letter from Mr. Henshaw to Sir 
Kobert Paston, afterwards Earl of Yarmouth, dated October 13, 1670, 



284 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

was no sooner resolved upon, but it was put in execution : 
tliey attired themselves alike, and, taking each a basket of 
oranges under their arms, they embarked in a hackney coach, 
and committed themselves to fortune, without any other es- 
cort than their own caprice and indiscretion. 

The duchess was gone to the play with her sister : Miss 
Jennings had excused herself under pretence of indisposition : 
she was over-joyed at the happy commencement of their ad- 



we have the following account : " Last week, there being a faire neare 
Audlej-end, the queen, the Dutchess of Richmond, and the Dutchess of 
Buckingham, had a frolick to disguise themselves like country lasses, 
in red petticoats, wastcotes, &c., and so goe see the faire. Sir Barnard 
Gascoign, on a cart jade, rode before the queen; another stranger before 
the Dutchess of Buckingham; and Mr. Roper before Richmond. They 
had all so overdone it in their disguise, and looked so much more like 
antiques than country volk, that, as soon as they came to the faire, the 
people began to goe after them; but the queen going to a booth, to buy 
a pair of yellow stockings for her sweet hart, and Sir Bernard asking 
for a pair of gloves sticht with blew, for his sweet hart, they were soon, 
by their gebrish, found to be strangers, which drew a bigger flock about 
them. One amongst them had seen the queen at dinner, knew her, and 
was proud of her knowledge. This soon brought all the faire into a 
crowd to stare at the queen. Being thus discovered, they, as soon as 
they could, got to theh horses ; but as many of the faire as had horses 
got up, with their wives, children, sweet harts, or neighbours, behind 
them, to get as much gape as they could, till they brought them to the 
court gate. Thus, by ill conduct, was a merry frolick turned into a 
penance." — Ive's Select Paioers, p. 39. 

Bishop Burnet says, "at this time, (1668,) the court fell into much 
extravagance in masquerading : both the king and queen, all the court,, 
went about masked, and came into houses unknown, and danced there, 
with a great deal of wild frolic. In all this people were so disguised, 
that, without being in the secret, none could distinguish them. They 
were carried about in hackney chairs. Once the queen's chairmen, not 
knowing who she was, went from her. So she was alone, and was much 
disturbed, and came to Whitehall in a hackney coach ; some say in a 
cart." — Burners History, vol. i., p. 368. 



MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 285 

venture ; for they had disguised themselves, had crossed the 
Park, and taken their hackney coach at Whitehall gate, with- 
out the least accident. They mutually congratulated each 
-other upon it, and Miss Price, taking a beginning so prospe- 
rous as a good omen of their success, asked her companion what 
they were to do at the fortune-teller's, and what they should 
propose to him. 

Miss Jennings told her that, for her part, curiosity was her 
principal inducement for going thither ; that, however, she 
was resolved to ask him, without naming any person, why a 
man, who was in love with a handsome young lady, was not 
urgent to marry her, since this was in his power to do, and by 
so doing he would have an opportunity of gratif5dng his desires. 
Miss Price told her, smiling, that, without going to the astro- 
loger, nothing was more easy than to explain the enigma, as 
she herself had almost given her a solution of it in the narra- 
tive of the Duchess of Cleveland's adventures. 

Having by this time nearly arrived at the playhouse. Miss 
Price, after a moment's reflection, said, that since fortune fa- 
voured them, a fair opportunity was now offered to signalize 
their courage, which was to go and sell oranges in the very 
playhouse, in the sight of the duchess and the whole court. 
The proposal being worthy of the sentiments of the one, and 
of the vivacity of the other, they immediately alighted, paid 
off their hack, and, running through the midst of an immense 
number of coaches, with great difficulty they reached the play- 
house door. Sidney, more handsome than the beautiful Adonis, 
and dressed more gay than usual, alighted just then from his 
ooach : Miss Price went boldly up to him, as he was adjusting 
his curls ; but he was too much occupied with his own dear 
self to attend to anything else, and so passed on without 
deigning to give her an answer. Killegrew came next, and the 



286 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

fair Jennings, partly encouraged by the other's pertness, ad- 
vanced towards him, and offered him her basket, whilst Price, 
more used to the language, desired him to buy her fine oranges. 
" Not now," said he, looking at them with attention ; " but if 
thou wilt to-morrow morning bring this young girl to my lod- 
gings, I will make it worth all the oranges in London to thee :"" 
and while he thus spoke to the one he chucked the other under 
the chin, examining her bosom. These familiarities making 
little Jennings forget the part she was acting, after having 
pushed him away with all the violence she was able, she told 
him with indignation that it was very insolent to dare — "Hat 
ha !" said he, " here's a rarity indeed ! a young w — , who, the^ 
better to sell her goods, sets up for virtue, and pretends inno- 
cence I" 

Price immediately perceived that nothing could be gained 
by continuing any longer in so dangerous a place ; and, taking 
lier companion under the arm, she dragged her away, while she 
was still in emotion at the insult that had been offered to 
her. 

Miss Jennings, resolving to sell no more oranges on these 
terms, was tempted to return, without accomplishing the other 
adventure ; but Price having represented to her the disgrace 
of such cowardly behaviour, more particularly after having 
before manifested so much resolution, she consented to go and 
pay the astrologer a short visit, so as they might be enabled to 
regain the palace before the play was ended. 

They had one of the doctor's bills for a direction, but there 
was no occasion for it ; for the driver of the coach they had 
taken told them he knew very well the place they wanted, for 
he had already carried above an hundred persons to the Ger- 
man doctor's : they were within half a street of his house, when 
fortune thought proper to play them a trick. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 287 

Brounker* had dined by chance with a merchant in that 
part of the city, and just as he was going away they ordered 
their coach to stop, as ill-luck would have it, just opposite to- 
him. Two orange girls in a hackney coach, one of whom ap- 
peared to have a very pretty face, immediately drew his atten- 
tion ; besides, he had a natural curiosity for such objects. 

Of all the men at court, he had the least regard for the fair 
sex, and the least attention to their reputation : he was not 
young, nor was his person agreeable ; however, with a great 
deal of wit, he had a violent passion for women. He did him- 
self justice respecting his own merit ; and, being persuaded 
that he could only succeed with those who were desirous of 
having his money, he was at open war with all the rest. He 
had a little country-house four or five miles from London 
always well stocked with girls rf in other respects he was a 
very honest man, and the best chess-player in England. • 

* Gentleman of the chamber to the Duke of York, and brother to 
Lord Viscount Brounker, president of the royal society. Lord Claren- 
don imputes to him the cause of the great sea-fight, in 1665, not being 
so well improved as it might have been, and adds, "nor did the duke 
come to hear of it till some years after, when Mr. Brounker's ill course 
of life, and his abominable nature, had rendered him so odious, that it 
was taken notice of in parliament, and, upon examination, found to be 
true, as is here related; upon which he was expelled the house of com- 
mons, whereof he was a member, as an infamous person, though his 
friend Coventry adhered to him, and used many indirect acts to have 
protected him, and afterwards procured him to have more countenance 
from the king than most men thought he deserved; being a person, 
throughout his whole life, never notorious for anything but the highest 
degree of impudence, and stooping to the most infamous offices, and 
playing very well at chess, which preferred him more than the most 
virtuous qualities could have done." — Continuation of Clarendon^ s 
Life, p. 270. . 

t Brounker, Love's squire, through all the field array'd, 
No troop was better clad, nor so well paid. 

Andi^ew MarvelVs Poems, vol. ii., p. 94. 



288 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

Price, alarmed at being thus closely examined by the most 
dangerous enemy they could encounter, turned her head the 
other way, bid her companion do the same, and told the coach- 
man to drive on. Brounker followed them unperceived on 
foot ; and the coach having stopped twenty or thirty yards 
farther up the street, they alighted. He was just behind them, 
and formed the same judgment of them which a man much 
more charitable to the sex must unavoidably have done, con- 
cluding that Miss Jennings was a young courtesan upon the 
look-out, and that Miss Price was the mother-abbess. He was, 
however, surprised to see them have much better shoes and 
stockings than women of that rank generally wear, and that 
the little orange girl, in getting out of a very high coach, 
showed one of the handsomest legs he had ever seen : but as 
all this was no obstruction to his designs, he resolved to pur- 
chase her at any rate, in order to place her in his seraglio. 

He came up to them, as they were giving their baskets in 
guard to the coachman, with orders to wait for them exactly 
in that place. Brounker immediately pushed in between 
them : as soon as they saw him, they gave themselves up for 
lost ; but he, without taking the least notice of their surprise, 
took Price aside with one hand, and his purse with the other, 
and began immediately to enter upon business, but was 
astonished to perceive that she turned away her face, with- 
out either answering or looking at him : As this conduct 
appeared to him unnatural, he stared her full in the face, not- 
withstanding all her endeavours to prevent him : he did the 
same to the other : and immediately recognised them, but 
determined to conceal his discovery. 

The old fox possessed a wonderful command of temper on 
such occasions, and having teazed them a little longer to re- 
move all suspicions he quitted them, telling Price; "That 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 289 

•she was a great fool to refuse his offers, and that her girl 
would not, perhaps, get so much in a year, as she might with 
him in one day ; that the times were greatly changed, since 
the queen's and the duchess's maids of honour forestalled 
the market, and were to be had cheaper than the town ladies." 
Upon this he went back to his coach, whilst they blessed 
themselves, returning heaven their most hearty thanks for 
having escaped this danger without being discovered. 

Brounker, on the other hand, would not have taken a thou- 
sand guineas for this rencounter : he blessed the Lord that he 
had not alarmed them to such a degree as to frustrate their 
intention ; for he made no doubt but Miss Price had managed 
some intrigue for Miss Jennings : he therefore immediately 
concluded, that at present it would be improper to make 
known his discovery, which would have answered no other 
end but to have overwhelmed them with confusion. 

Upon this account, although Jermyn was one of his best 
friends, he felt a secret joy in not having prevented his 
being made a cuckold, before his marriage ; and the appre- 
hension he was in of preserving liim from that accident, was 
his sole reason for quitting them with the precautions afore- 
mentioned. 

Whilst they were under these alarms, their coachman was 
engaged in a squabble with some blackguard boys, who had 
gathered round his coach in order to steal the oranges : from 
words they came to blows : the two nymphs saw the com- 
mencement of the fray as they were returning to the coach, 
after having abandoned the design of going to the fortune- 
teller's. Their coachman being a man of spirit, it was with 
great difficulty they could persuade him to leave their oranges 
to the mob, that they might get off without any further dis- 
turbance : having thus regained their hack, after a thousand 

19 



290 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

frights, and after having received an abundant share of the 
most low and infamous abuse applied to them during the 
fracas, they at length reached St. James's, vowing never more 
to go after fortune-tellers, through so many dangers, terrors, 
and alarms, as they had lately undergone. 

Brounker, who, from the indifferent opinion he entertained 
of the fair sex, would have staked his life that Miss Jennings 
did not return from this expedition in the same condition she 
went, kept his thoughts, however, a profound secret ; since it 
would have afforded him the highest satisfaction to have seen 
the all-fortunate Jermyn marry a little street- walker, who 
pretended to pass for a pattern of chastity, that he might, the 
day after his marriage, congratulate him upon his virtuous 
spouse ; but heaven Avas not disposed to afford him that 
satisfaction, as will appear in the sequel of these memoirs. 

Miss Hamilton was in the country, as we before mentioned, 
at a relation's : the Che^^alier de Grammont bore this short 
absence of hers with great uneasiness, since she would not 
allow him permission to visit her there, upon any pretence 
whatever ; but play, wliich was favourable to him, was no 
small relief to his extreme impatience. 

Miss Hamilton, however, at last returned. Mrs. Weten- 
hall * (for that was the name of her relation) would by all 
means wait upon her to London, in appearance out of polite- 

* Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Henry Bediugfield, and wife of Thomas 
Wetenhall, of Hextall Court, near East Peckham, in the county of Kent, 
See Collinses Baronetage, p. 216. The family of Whetenhall, or Whet- 
nall, was possessed of the estate of Hextall Court from the time of 
Henry VIII. until within a few years past, when one of them, Henry 
Whetenhall, Esq., alienated it to John Fane, Earl of Westmoreland. 
Of this family was Edward WhetenhaU, a celebrated polemical writer, 
who, in 1678, was consecrated bishop of Corke and Eoss. — See Wood's 
Aihenm Oxoniensis, vol. ii., p. 851, 998. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 291 

ness ; for ceremony, carried beyond all bearing, is tlie grand 
characteristic of country gentry : yet this mark of civility 
was only a pretence, to obtain a peevish husband's consent 
to his wife's journey to town. Perhaps he would have done 
himself the honour of conducting Miss Hamilton up to 
London, had he not been employed in writing some re- 
marks upon the ecclesiastical history, a work in which he had 
long been engaged : the ladies were more civil than to inter- 
rupt him in his undertaking, and besides, it would entirely 
have disconcerted all Mrs. Wetenhall's schemes. 

This lady was what may be properly called a beauty, en- 
tirely English, made up of lilies and roses, of snow and milk, 
as to colour ; and of wax, with respect to the arms, hands, 
neck, and feet, but all this without either animation or air ; 
her face was uncommonly pretty ; but there was no variety, 
no change of countenance in it : one would have thought she 
took it in the morning out of a case, in order to put it up 
again at night, without using it in the smallest degree in the 
daytime. What can I say of her ! nature had formed her a 
baby from her infancy, and a baby remained till death the 
fair Mrs. Wetenhall. Her husband had been destined for 
the church ; but his elder brother dying just at the time he 
had gone through his studies of divinity, instead of taking 
orders, he came to England, and took to wife Miss Beding- 
field, the lady of whom we are now speaking. 

His person was not disagreeable, but he had a serious con- 
templative air, very apt to occasion disgust : as for the rest, 
she might boast of having one of the greatest theologists in 
the kingdom for her husband : he was all day poring over his 
books, and went to bed soon, in order to rise early ; so that 
his wife found him snoring when she came to bed, and when 
he arose he left her there sound asleep : his conversation at 

19—2 



292 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

table would have been very brisk, if Mrs. Wetenliall had 
been as great a proficient in divinity, or as great a lover of 
controversy, as he was ; but being neither learned in the 
former, nor desirous of the latter, silence reigned at their 
table, as absolutely as at a refectory. 

She had often expressed a great desire to see London ; but 
though they were only distant a very short day's journey from 
it, she had never been able to satisfy her curiosity: it was 
not therefore without reason, that she grew weary of the life 
she was forced to lead at Peckham.* The melancholy retired 
situation of the place was to her insupportable ; and as she 
had the folly, incident to many other women, of believing 
sterility to be a kind of reproach, she was very much hurt to 
see that she might fall under that suspicion ; for she was per- 
suaded, that although heaven had denied her children, she 
nevertheless had all the necessary requisites on her part, if it 
had been the will of the Lord. This had occasioned her to 
make some reflections, and then to reason upon those reflec- 
tions ; as for instance, that since her husband chose rather to 
devote himself to his studies, than to the duties of matri- 
mony, to turn over musty old books, rather than attend to 
the attractions of beauty, and to gratify his own pleasures, 
rather than those of his wife, it might be permitted her to 
relieve some necessitous lover, in neighbourly charity, pro- 
vided she could do it conscientiously, and to direct her in- 
clinations in so just a manner, that the evil spirit should 
have no concern in it. Mr. Wetenhall, a zealous partisan 

* " Peckham is about ten miles off Tunbridge Wells. Sir William 
Twisden lias an ancient mansion here, which has been long in that 
family."— .g^^rr's History of Tunbridge Wells, 8vo, 1766, p. 237. Mr. 
Hasted says, the estate was purchased by Sir William Twisden of 
Henry Whetenhall, Esq. — HastecVs Kent^ vol. ii. p. 274. 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 293 

for the doctrine of the casuists, would not perhaps have ap- 
proved of these decisions ; but he was not consulted. 

The greatest misfortune was, that neither solitary Peckham,. 
nor its sterile neighbourhood, presented any expedients, either 
for the execution of the afore-mentioned design, or for the 
relief of poor Mrs. Wetenhall : she was visibly pining away, 
when, through fear of dying either with solitude or of want, 
she had recourse to Miss Hamilton's commiseration. 

Their first acquaintance was formed at Paris, whither Mr. 
Wetenhall had taken his wife half a year after they were 
married, on a journey thither to buy books : Miss Hamilton^ 
who from that very time greatly pitied her, consented to pass 
some time in the country with her, in hopes by that visit to 
deliver her, for a short time at least, out of her captivity ; 
wMch project succeeded according to her wish. 

The Chevalier de Grammont, being informed of the day on 
which they were to arrive, borne on the wings of love and 
impatience, had engaged George Hamilton to go with him, 
and meet them some miles out of London. The equipage he 
had prepared for the purpose, corresponded with his usual 
magnificence ; and on such an occasion, we may reasonably 
su]3pose he had not neglected liis person : however, with all 
his impatience, he checked the ardour of the coachman, through 
fear of accidents, rightly judging that upon a road prudence 
is preferable to eagerness. The ladies at length appeared, and 
Miss Hamilton, being in his eyes, ten or twelve times more 
handsome than before her departure from London, he would 
have purchased with his life so kind a reception as she gave 
her brother. 

Mrs. Wetenhall had her share of the praises, which at this 
interview were liberally bestowed upon her beauty, for which 
her beauty was very thankful to those who did it so much 



294 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

honour ; and as Hamilton regarded her with a tender attention, 
she regarded Hamilton as a man very well qualified for put- 
ting in execution the little projects she had concerted with 
her conscience. 

As soon as she was in London, her head was almost turned, 
through an excess of contentment and felicity : everything 
appeared like enchantment to her in this superb city ; more 
particularly, as in Paris she had never seen anything farther 
than the Eue Saint Jacques, and a few booksellers' shops. Miss 
Hamilton entertained her at her own house, and she was pre- 
sented, admired, and well received at both courts. 

The Chevalier de Grammont, whose gallantry and magni- 
ficence were inexhaustible, taking occasion, from this fair 
stranger's arrival, to exhibit his grandeur, nothing was to be 
seen but balls, concerts, plays, excursions by land and by 
water, splendid collations and sumptuous entertainments : 
Mrs. Wetenhall was transported with pleasures, of which the 
greatest part were entirely new to her ; she was greatly de- 
lighted with all, except now and then at a play, when tragedy 
was acted, which she confessed she thought rather wearisome: 
she agreed, however, that the show was very interesting, when 
there were many people killed upon the stage, but thought the 
players were very fine handsome fellows, who were much 
better alive than dead. 

Hamilton, upon the whole, was pretty well treated by her, 
if a man in love, who is never satisfied until the completion 
of his wishes, could confine himself within the bounds of 
moderation and reason : he used all his endeavours to deter- 
mine her to put in execution the projects she had formed at 
Peckham: Mrs. Wetenhall, on the other hand, was much 
pleased with him. This is the Hamilton who served in the 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 295 

French army with distinction ;"^ he was both agreeable and 
handsome. All imaginable opportunities conspired to favour 
the establishment of an intimacy, whose commencement had 
been so brisk, that in all probability it would not languish for 
a conclusion ; but the more he pressed her to it, the more her 
resolution began to fail, and regard for some scruples, which 
she had not well weighed, kept her in suspense : there was 
reason to believe that a little perseverance would have removed 
these obstacles ; yet this at the present time was not attempted. 
Hamilton, not able to conceive what could prevent her from 

* I apprehend he is the same George Hamilton already described, 
who married Miss Jennings, and not the author of this work, as Lord 
Orford supposes. In a letter from Arlington to Sir William Godolphin, 
dated September 7, 1671, it is said, '' the Conde de Molina complains to 
lis of certain levies Sir George Hamilton hath made in Ireland. The 
king hath always told him he had no express license for it ; and I 
have told the Conde he must not find it strange that a gentleman who 
had been bred the king's page abroad, and losing his employment at 
home, for being a Eoman Catholic, should have some more than ordi- 
nary connivance towards the making his fortune abroad by the coun- 
tenance of his friends and relations in Ireland : and yet take the 
matter in the worst sense he could give, it would not amount to the 
breach of any article betwixt the king my master and the court of 
Spain." — Arlington's Letters, vol. ii., p. 332. In a letter from the same 
nobleman to Lord Sandwich, written about October, 1667, we find the 
cause of Sir George Hamilton's entering into the French service : 
" Concerning the reformadoes of the guards of horse, his majesty 
thought fit, the other day, to have them dismissed, according to his pro- 
mise, made to the parliament at the last session. Mr. Hamilton had a 
secret overture made him, that he, with those men, should be welcome 
into the French service ; his majesty, at their dismissal, having de- 
clared they should have leave to go abroad whither they pleased. 
They accepted of Mr. Hamilton's offer to carry them into France," — 
Arlington's Letters, vol. i., p. 185. Lodge, in his Peerage of Ireland, 
says, Sir George Hamilton died in 1667, which, from the first extract 
■above, appears to be erroneous. He has evidently confounded the 
father and son ; the former of whom was the person who died in 1667. 



296 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 

completing his liappiness, since in liis opinion the first and 
greatest difficulties of an amour were already overcome, with 
respect to the public, resolved to abandon her to her irresolu- 
tions, instead of endeavouring to conquer them by a more 
vigorous attack. It was not consistent with reason, to desist 
from an enterprise, where so many prospects of success pre- 
sented themselves, for such inconsiderable obstacles ; but he 
suffered himseK to be intoxicated with chimeras and visions, 
which unseasonably cooled the vigour of his pursuit, and led 
him astray in another unprofitable undertaking. 

I know not wliether poor Wetenhall took the blame upon 
herself ; but it is certain, she was extremely mortified upon it. 
Soon after being obliged to return to her cabbages and turkeys 
at Peckham, she had almost gone distracted : that residence 
appeared a thousand times more dreadful to her, since she had 
been initiated into the amusements of London ; but as the 
queen was to set out within a month for Tanbridge Wells, she 
was obliged to yield to necessity, and return to the philo- 
sopher, Wetenhall, with the consolation of having engaged 
Miss Hamilton to come and live at her house, which was 
within ten or twelve miles of Tunbridge, as long as the court 
remained there. 

Miss Hamilton promised not to abandon her in her retire- 
ment, and further engaged to bring the Chevalier de Grammont 
along with her, whose humour and conversation extremely 
delighted her. The Chevalier de Grammont, who on all occa- 
sions started agreeable raillery, engaged on his part to bring 
George Hamilton, which words overwhelmed her with blushes. 

The court set out soon after^ to pass about two months in 

* This was in 1664, probably as soon as the queen was sufficiently 
recovered from the illness mentioned in note on p. 153. See £u7t's 
History of Tunhridge Wells, p. 43. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 297 

the place of all Europe the most rural and simple, and yet, at 
the same time, the most entertaining and agreeable. 

Tunbridge is the same distance from London, that Fon- 
tainebleau is from Paris, and is, at the season, the general 
rendezvous of all the gay and handsome of both sexes. The 
company, though always numerous, is always select : since 
those who repair tliither for diversion, ever exceed the number 
of those who go tliither for health. E^^erything there breathes 
mirth and pleasure : constraint is banished, familiarity is estab- 
lished upon the first acquaintance, and joy and pleasure are 
the sole sovereigns of the place. 

The company are accommodated with lodgings in little, 
clean, and convenient habitations, that lie straggling and sepa- 
rated from each other, a mile and a half all round the Wells, 
where the company meet in the morning : this place consists 
of a long walk, shaded by spreading trees, under which they 
walk while they are drinking the waters : on one side of this 
walk is a long row of shops, plentifully stocked with all 
manner of toys, lace, gloves, stockings, and where there is 
raffling, as at Paris, in the Foire de Saint Germain : on the 
other side of the walk is the market ; and, as it is the custom 
here for every person to buy their own provisions, care is taken 
that nothing offensive appears on the stalls. Here young, fair> 
fresh-coloured country girls, with clean linen, small straw hats, 
and neat shoes and stockings, sell game, vegetables, flowers and 
fruit : here one may live as one pleases : here is, likewise, deep 
play, and no want of amorous intrigues. As soon as the even- 
ing comes, every one quits his little palace to assemble at the 
bowling-green, where, in the open air, those who choose, dance 
upon a turf more soft and smooth than the finest carpet in 
the world. 



298 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

Lord Muskerry^ liad, witliin two or three short miles of 
Timbridge, a very handsome seat called Siimmer-hill : Miss 
Hamilton, after having spent eight or ten days at Peck- 
ham, could not excuse herself from passing the remainder of 
the season at his house ; and, having obtained leave of Mr. 
Wetenhall, that his lady should accompany her, they left the 
melancholy residence of Peckham, and its tiresome master, 
and fixed their little court at Summer-hill.-[- 

* Eldest son to the Earl of Clancarty ; " a young man," says Lord 
Clarendon, " of extraordinary courage and expectation, who had been 
colonel of a regiment of foot in Flanders, imder the duke, and had the 
general estimation of an excellent officer. He was of the duke's bed- 
chamber ; and the earl {i.e. of Falmouth) and he were, at that time, so 
near the duke, that his highness was all covered with their blood. 
There fell, likewise, in the same ship, and at the same instant, Mr. 
Richard Boyle, a younger son of the Earl of Burlington, a youth of 
great hope." — Continuation of Clarendon^s Life., p. 266. 

t Lord Orford supposes this place came to Lord Mu skerry through 
the means of his elder brother ; but in this he is mistaken, as it be- 
longed to him in right of his wife, the only daughter of Lord Clan- 
rickard. This seat is about five miles from the Wells, and was once 
the residence and property of Sir Francis Walsingham, from whom it 
descended to his daughter Frances, who married first Sir Philip Sydney ; 
secondly, the unfortunate Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex : and lastly, 
Richard de Burgh, Marquis of Clanrickard. In Walker^ s History of 
Independence, we are told, that ' Somer-hill, a pleasant seat, worth 
one thousand pounds a-year, belonging to the Earl of St. Albans, (who 
was also Marquis of Clanrickard,) is given by the junta to the blood- 
hound Bradshaw : So he hath warned the Countesse of Leicester, who 
formerly had it in possession, to raise a debt of three thousand pounds, 
pretended due to her from the said earle, (which she had already 
raised fourfold,) to quiet the possession against our lord's day next." 
At the restoration it seems to have returned to its original owner. It 
is now the residence of "William Woodgate, Esq. A writer, supposed to 
be the Reverend Richard Oneley, thus describes it in 1771 : "The 
house being too large for the family of the present possessor, some of - 
the state rooms are not made use of, or furnished ; but in them are 
still remaining superb chimney-pieces, fine carved wainscot, and other 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT, 299 

They went every day to court, or the court came to them. 
The queen even surpassed her usual attentions in inventing 
and supporting entertainments : she endeavoured to increase 
the natural ease and freedon of Tunbridge, by dispensing with, 
rather than requiring, those ceremonies that were due to her 
presence ; and, confining in the bottom of her heart that grief 
and uneasiness she could not overcome, she saw Miss Stewart 
triumphantly possess the affections of the king without mani- 
festing the least uneasiness. 

Never did love see his empire in a more flourishing condi- 
tion than on this spot : those who were smitten before they 



monuments of their former grandeur and magnificence. In the 
dining-room, above stairs, are figures, flowers, and other ornaments in 
stucco ; particularly, a representation in relievo, over the chimney- 
piece, of the angelic host (as it is thought) rejoicing in the creation of 
the world ; a design seemingly taken from Job, chap, xxxvii., v. 7. 
The house is inclosed with four courts, E. W. N. S. The front court, 
through which is the grand approach to the house, looks towards the 
w^est ; from whence you have a fine prospect to the Surrey hills before 
you, and Seven-oak hills on the right. The prospect is limited by 
Baron Smythe's park on the left. The town and castle of Tunbridge, 
the navigable river Medway, and the rich meadows through which it 
runs, finely diversified with corn-fields, pasturage, hop-gardens, and 
orchards, are here in full view, and form a most beautiful scene. From 
the opposite court, on the west side of the house, are seen the Canter- 
bury hills, near Dover, at the distance of about fifty miles ; but this view, 
and the several objects it comprises, is best enjoyed from a rising hill, 
on which grow two large oaks, at a little distance southward from the 
liouse. From this stand, a stranger may behold at leisure a valley 
equal to Tempe, Andalusia, or Tinian." — General Account of Tun- 
hridge Wells and its Environs ; printed for G. Pearch, 8vo, p. 37. 
Mr. Hasted says, " that Lady Muskerry having, by her expensive way 
of life, wasted her estate, she, by piece-meals, sold off a great part of 
the demesne lands, lying mostly on the southern side of South-frith, to 
different persons ; and dying in great distress, was buried accordingly, 
-about the year 1698." — History of Kent, vol. ii., p. 341. 



300 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMC 



came to it, felt a mighty augmentation of their flame ; and 
those who seemed the least susceptible of love, laid aside 
their natural ferocity, to act in a new character. Tor the truth 
of the latter, w^e shall only relate the change which soon ap- 
peared in the conduct of Prince Eupert."^ 

He was brave and courageous, even to rashness ; but cross- 
grained and incorrigibly obstinate : his genius was fertile in 
mathematical experiments, and he possessed some knowledge 
of chemistry : he was polite even to excess, unseasonably ; but 

* Lord Orford's contrast to this character of Prince Eupert is too just 
to be here omitted. " Born with the taste of an uncle whom his sw^ord 
was not fortunate in defending, Prince Eupert was fond of those 
sciences which soften and adorn a hero's private hours, and knew how 
to mix them with his minutes of amusement, without dedicating 
his life to their pursuit, like us, who, wanting capacity for momentous 
views, make serious study of what is only the transitory occupation of 
a genius. Had the court of the first Charles been peaceful, how agree- 
ably had the prince's congenial propensity Qattered and confirmed the 
incHnation of his uncle ! How the muse of arts would have repaid the 
patronage of the monarch, when, for his first artist, she would have pre- 
sented him with his nephew^ ! How different a figure did the same 
prince make in a reign of dissimilar complexion ! The philosophic 
wanior, who could relax himself into the ornament of a refined courts 
was thought a savage mechanic, when courtiers were only voluptuous 
wits. Let me transcribe a picture of Prince Eupert, drawn by a man 
who was far from having the least portion of wit in that age, who was- 
superior to its indelicacy, and who yet was so overborne by its preju- 
judices, that he had the complaisance to ridicule virtue, merit, talents, 
— But Prince Eupert, alas ! was an awkward lover !" Lord Orford 
here inserts the character in the text, and then adds, " What pity that 
we, who wish to transmit this prince's resemblance to posterity on a 
fairer canvas, have none of these inimitable colours to efface the harsher 
likeness ! We can but oppose facts to wit, truth to sathe. — How unequal 
the pencils ! yet what these lines cannot do, they may suggest : they 
may induce the reader to reflect, that if the prince was defective in the 
transient varnish of a court, he at least was adorned by the arts with 
that pohsh which alone can make a couit attract the attention of sub- 
sequent ages." — Catalogue of Engravers, p. 135, 8vo ed. 




':i.Iely I. 



\ 



I^I^^ 1-lT V^Til^E. S 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 301 

haughty, and even brutal, when he ought to have been gentle 
and courteous : he was tall, and his manners were ungracious : 
he had a dry hard-favoured visage, and a stern look, even when 
he wished to please ; but, when he was out of humour, he was 
the true picture of reproof. 

The queen had sent for the players, either that there might 
be no intermission in the diversions of the place, or, perhaps, 
to retort upon Miss Stewart, by the presence of Nell Gwyn, 
part of the uneasiness she felt from hers. Prince Eupert found 
charms in the person of another player called Hughes,* who 
brought down and greatly subdued his natural fierceness. 
From this time, adieu alembics, crucibles, furnaces, and all the 
black furniture of the forges : a complete farewell to all ma- 
thematical instruments and chemical speculations: sweet 
powder and essences were now the only ingredients that occu- 
pied any share of his attention. The impertinent gipsy chose 
to be attacked in form ; and proudly refusing money, that, in 
the end she might sell her favours at a dearer rate, she caused 
the poor prince to act a part so unnatural, that he no longer 
appeared like the same person. The king was greatly pleased 
with this event, for which great rejoicings were made at Tun- 
bridge ; but nobody was bold enough to make it the subject of 

* Mrs. Hughes was one of the actresses belonging to the king's 
company, and one of the earliest female performers. According to 
Downs, she commenced her theatrical career after the opening of Drury- 
lane theatre, in 1663. She appears to ha.ve been the first female re- 
presentative of Desdemona. By Prince Rupert she had a daughter, 
named Ruperta, married to Lieutenant-general Howe, who survived 
her husband many years, dying at Somerset house, about the year 1740. 
For Mrs. Hughes Prince Rupert bought the magnificent seat of Sir 
Nicholas Crispe, near Hammersmith, now the residence of the Mar- 
grave of Brandenburgh, which cost ^25,000 the building. From the 
dramatis personae to Tom Essence, licensed 1676, we find Mrs. Hughes 
was then on the stage, and in the duke's company. 



1 



302 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 



satire, though the same constraint was not observed with other 
ridiculous personages. 

There was dancing every day at the queen's apartments,, 
because the physicians recommended it, and no person thought 
it amiss : for even those who cared least for it, chose that 
exercise to digest tlie waters rather than walking. Lord Mus- 
, kerry thought himself secure against his lady's rage for danc- 
ing ; for, although he was ashamed of it, the princess of Babylon 
was, by the grace of God, six or seven months advanced in 
pregnancy; and, to complete her misfortune, the child had 
fallen all on one side, so that even Euclid would have been 
puzzled to say what her figure was. The disconsolate lady, 
seeing Miss Hamilton and Mrs. Wetenhall set out every 
morning, sometimes on horseback and sometimes in a coach, 
but ever attended by a gallant troop to conduct them to court, 
and to convey them back, she fancied a thousand times more 
delights at Tunbridge than in reality there were, and she did 
not cease in her imagination, to dance over at Summer-hill all 
the country dances wliich she thought had been danced at 
Tunbridge. She could no longer support the racking torments 
which disturbed her mind, when relenting heaven, out of pity 
to her pains and sufferings, caused Lord Muskerry to repair 
to London, and kept him there two whole days : as soon 
as ever he had turned his back, the Babylonian princess de- 
clared her resolution to make a trip to court. 

She had a domestic chaplain who did not want sense, and 
Lord Muskerry, for fear of accidents, had recommended her to 
the wholesome counsels and good prayers of this prudent divine; 
but in vain were all his preachings and exhortations to stay at 
home ; in vain did he set before her eyes her husband's com- 
mands, and the dangers to wliich she would expose herself in 
her present condition ; he likewise added that her pregnancy. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 30^ 

being a particular blessing from heaven, she ought therefore 
to be so much the more careful for its preservation, since it 
cost her husband, perhaps, more trouble than she was aware 
of, to obtain it. These remonstrances were altogether inefPec- 
tual : Miss Hamilton and her cousin Wetenhall, having the 
complaisance to confirm her in her resolution, they assisted in 
dressing her the next morning, and set out along with her : 
all their skill and dexterity were requisite to reduce her shape 
into some kind of symmetry ; but, having at last pinned a 
small cushion under her petticoat on the right side, to coun- 
teract the untoward appearance the little infant occasioned by 
throwing itself on the left, they almost split their sides with 
laughter, assuring her at the same time that she looked per- 
fectly charming. 

As soon as she appeared, it was generally believed that she had 
dressed herself in a farthingale, in order to make her court to 
the queen; but every person was pleased at her arrival: those 
who were unacquainted with the circumstances assured her in 
earnest that she was pregnant with twins ; and the queen, who 
envied her condition, notwithstanding the ridiculous appear- 
ance she then made, being made acquainted with the motive 
of her journey, was determined to gratify her inclinations. 

As soon as the hour for country dances arrived, her cousin 
Hamilton was appointed her partner : she made some faint excuses 
at first on account of the inconvenient situation she was then in: 
but soon suffered them to be overcome, in order, as she said, to 
show her duty to the queen ; and never did a woman in this 
world enjoy such complete satisfaction. 

We have already observed, that the greatest prosperity is 
liable to the greatest change : Lady Muskerry, trussed up as 
she was, seemed to feel no manner of uneasiness from the 
motion in dancing ; on the contrary, being only apprehensive 



304 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

of the presence of her husband, which would have destroyed 
all her happiness, she danced with uncommon briskness, lest 
her ill stars should bring him back before she had fully satis- 
fied herself with it. In the midst, therefore, of her capering 
in this indiscreet manner, her cushion came loose, without her 
perceiving it, and fell to the ground in the very middle of the 
first round. Tlie Duke of Buckingham, who watched her, took 
it up instantly, wrapped it up in his coat, and, mimicking the 
cries of a new-born infant, he went about inquiring for a nurse 
for the young Muskerry among the maids of honour. 

This buffoonery, joined to the strange figure of the poor 
lady, had almost thrown Miss Stewart into hysterics ; for the 
princess of Babylon, after tliis accident, was quite flat on one 
side, and immoderately protuberant on the other. All those 
who had before suppressed their inclinations to laugh, now 
gave themselves free scope, when they saw that Miss Stewart 
was ready to split her sides. The poor lady was greatly dis- 
concerted : every person was officious to console her ; but the 
queen, who inwardly laughed more heartily than any, pre- 
tended to disapprove of their taking such liberties. 

Whilst Miss Hamilton and Mrs. Wetenhall endeavoured 
to refit Lady Muskerry in another room, the Duke of Buck- 
ingham told the king that, if the physicians would permit a 
little exercise immediately after a delivery, the best way to re- 
cover Lady Muskerry was to renew the dance as soon as ever 
her infant was replaced ; this advice was approved, and accord- 
ingly put in execution. The queen proposed, as soon as she 
appeared, a second round of country-dances ; and Lady Mus- 
kerry accepting the offer, the remedy had its desired effect, 
and entirely removed every remembrance of her late mishap. 

Whilst these things were passing at the king's court, that 
of the Duke of York took a journey on the other side of Lon- 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 305 

don ;* the pretence of this journey was to visit the county 
whose name he bore; but love was the real motive. The 
duchess, since her elevation, had conducted herself with such 
prudence and circumspection, as could not be sufficiently ad- 
mired : such were her manners, and such the general estima- 
tion in which she was held, that she appeared to have found 
out the secret of pleasing every one ; a secret yet more rare 
than the grandeur to which she had been raised : but, after 
having gained universal esteem, she was desirous of being 
more particularly beloved ; or, more properly speaking, ma- 
licious Cupid assaulted her heart, in spite of the discretion, 
prudence, and reason, with which she had fortified it. 

In vain had she said to herself a hundred times, that if the 
duke had been so kind as to do her justice by falling in love 
with her, he had done her too much honour by making her his 
wife ; that with respect to his inconstant disposition, which 
estranged him from her, she ought to bear it with patience, 
until it pleased heaven to produce a change in his conduct ; 
that the frailties on his part, which might to her appear in- 
jurious, would never justify in her the least deviation from her 
duty ; and, as resentment was still less allowable, she ought 
to endeavour to regain him by a conduct entirely opposite to 

* In Sir John Eeresby's Memoii^s, 8vo. 1735, p. 11, sub anno 1665, it 
is said, Aug. 5, " his Eoyal Highness the Duke and his Duchess came 
down to York, where it was observed that Mr. Sidney, the hand- 
somest youth of his time, and of the duke's bedchamber, was greatly in 
love with the duchess ; and indeed he might well be excused ; for the 
duchess, daughter to Chancellor Hyde, was a very handsome personage, 
and a woman of fine wit. The duchess, on her part, seemed kind to 
him, but very innocently ; but he had the misfortune to be banished 
the court afterwards, for another reason, as was reported." Burnet 
mentions this transaction, and insinuates, that to this cause is to be 
ascribed the duchess's conversion to popery. — See Bicrnefs History of 
his Otvn Times^ vol. i., p. 318. 

20 



306 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

his own. In vain was it, as we have said before, that she had 
long resisted Love and his emissaries by the help of these 
maxims : how solid soever reason, and however obstinate wis- 
dom -and virtue may be, there are yet certain attacks which 
tire by their length, and, in the end, subdue both reason and 
virtue itself. 

The Duchess of York was one of the highest feeders in Eng- 
land : as this was an unforbidden pleasure she indulged herself 
in it, as an indemnification for other self-denials. It was really 
an edifying sight to see her at table. The duke, on the con- 
trary, being incessantly in the hurry of new fancies, exhausted 
himself by his inconstancy, and was gradually wastiQg away ; 
whilst the poor princess, gratifying her good appetite, grew so 
fat and plump that it was a blessing to see her. It is not easy 
to determine how long things would have continued in this 
situation, if Love, who was resolved to have satisfaction for her 
late conduct, so opposite to the former, had not employed ar- 
tifice as well as force, to disturb her repose. 

He at first let loose upon her resentment and jealousy two 
mortal enemies to all tranquillity and happiness. A tall 
creature, pale-faced, and nothing but skin and bone, named 
Churchill,^ whom she had taken for a maid of honour, became 

* Miss Arabella Churcliill, daughter of Sir Wiuston Churcliill of 
Wotton Basset, in the county of Wilts, and sister to the celebrated 
John, Duke of Marlborough. She was born 1648. By the Duke of 
York she was mother of, 1, James, Duke of Berwick ; 2, Henry Fitz- 
James, commonly called the Grand Prior, born 1673, who was, after 
the revolution, created by his father Duke of Albemarle, and died 1702; 
3, Henrietta, born 1670, married to Lord "Waldegrave, and died 1730. 
Miss Churchill afterwards became the wife of Charles Godfrey, Esq., 
clerk-comptroller of the green cloth, and master of the jewel office, by 
whom she had two daughters; one, Charlotte, married to Lord Falmouth; 
and the other, Elizabeth, to Edmund Dunch, Esq. Mrs. Godfrey died in 
May, 1730, at the age of 82. 

/ 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 307 

the object of her jealousy, because she was then the object of 
the duke's affection. The court was not able to comprehend 
how, after having been in love with Lady Chesterfield, Miss 
Hamilton, and Miss Jennings, he could have any inclination 
for such a creature ; but they soon perceived that something 
more than unaccountable variety had a great share in effecting 
this conquest. 

The duchess beheld with indignation a choice which seemed 
to debase her own merit in a much greater degree than any of 
the former ; at the very instant that indignation and jealousy 
began to provoke her spleen, perfidious Cupid threw in the 
way of her passions and resentments the amiable, handsome 
Sidney ; and, whilst he kept her eyes fixed upon his personal 
perfections, diverted her attention from perceiving the defi- 
ciency of his mental accomplishments : she was wounded be- 
fore she was aware of her danger ; but the good opinion Sidney 
had of his own merit did not suffer him long to be ignorant of 
such a glorious conquest ; and, in order more effectually to 
secure it, his eyes rashly answered everything which those of 
her royal highness had the kindness to tell him, whilst his per- 
sonal accomplishments were carefully heightened by all the 
advantages of dress and show. 

The duchess, foreseeing the consequences of such an engage- 
ment, strongly combated the inclination that hurried her 
away ; but Miss Hobart, siding with that inclination, argued 
the matter with her scruples, and, in the end, really vanquished 
them. This girl had insinuated herself into her royal highness'^ 
confidence by a fund of news with which she was provided the 
whole year round : the court and the city supplied her ; nor 
was it very material to her whether her stories were true or 
false, her chief care being that they should prove agreeable to 
her mistress : she knew, likewise, how to gratify her palate, and 

20—2 



308 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

constantly provided a variety of those dishes and liquors which 
she liked best. These qualifications had rendered her neces- 
sary ; but, desirous of being still more so, and ha^?ing perceived 
both the airs that Sidney gave himself, and what was passing 
in the heart of her mistress, the cunning Hobart took the liberty 
of telling her royal highness that this unfortunate youth was 
pining away solely on her account ; that it was a thousand 
pities a man of his figure should lose the respect for her which 
was most certainly her due, merely because she had reduced 
him to such a state that he could no longer preserve it ; that 
he was gradually dying away on her account, in the sight of 
the whole court ; that his situation would soon be generally re- 
marked, except she made use of the proper means to prevent 
it; that, in her opinion, her royal highness ought to pity the 
miserable situation into which her charms had reduced him, 
and to endeavour to alleviate his pain in some way or other. 
The duchess asked her what she meant by " endeavouring to 
alleviate his pain in some way or other." " I mean, madam," 
answered Miss Hobart, " that, if either his person be disagree- 
able, or his passion troublesome, you will give him his dis- 
charge ; or, if you choose to retain him in your service, as all 
the princesses in the world would do in your place, you will 
permit me to give him directions from you for his future con- 
duct, mixed with a few grains of hope, to prevent his entirely 
losing his senses, until you find a proper occasion yourself to 
acquaint him with your wishes." "What!" said the duchess, 
"would you advise me, Hobart — you, who really love me — to 
engage in an affair of this nature, at the expense of my honour, 
and the hazard of a thousand inconveniences ! If such frailties 
are sometimes excusable, they certainly are not so in the high 
station in which I am placed; and it would be an ill-requital on 
my part for his goodness who raised me to the rank I now fill. 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 309 

to— — " " All this is very fine/' interrupted Miss Hobart : " but 
is it not very well known that he only married you because he 
was importuned so to do ? Since that I refer to yourself whether 
he has ever restrained his inclination a single moment, giving 
you the most convincing proofs of the change that has taken 
place in his heart, by a thousand provoking infidelities ? Is 
it still your intention to persevere in a state of indolence and 
humility, whilst the duke, after having received the favours, 
or suffered the repulses, of all the coquettes in England, pays 
his addresses to the maids of honour, one after the other, and 
at present places his whole ambition and desires in the con- 
quest of that ugly skeleton, Churchill ? What ! Madam, 
must then your prime of life be spent in a sort of widowhood 
in deploring your misfortunes, without ever being permitted 
to make use of any remedy that may offer ? A woman must 
be endowed with insuperable patience, or with an inexhaustible 
degree of resignation, to bear this. Can a husband, who dis- 
regards you both night and day, really suppose, because his 
wife eats and drinks heartily, as, God be thanked, your royal 
highness does, that she wants nothing else than to sleep well 
too ? Faith, such conduct is too bad : I therefore once more 
repeat that there is not a princess in the universe w^ho would 
refuse the homage of a man like Sidney, when a husband pays 
his addresses elsewhere." 

These reasons were certainly not morally good ; but had 
they been still worse the duchess would have yielded to them, 
so much did her heart act in concert with Miss Hobart, to 
overthrow her discretion and prudence. 

This intrigue began at the very time that Miss Hobart advised 
Miss Temple not to give any encouragement to the addresses 
of the handsome Sidney. As for him, no sooner was he in- 
formed by the confidant Hobart that the goddess accepted his 



310 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

adoration than he immediately began to be particularly re- 
served and circumspect in his behaviour, in order to divert the 
attention of the public ; but the public is not so easily deceived 
as some people imagine. 

As there were too many spies, too many inquisitive people 
and critics, in a numerous court, residing in the midst of a 
populous city, the duchess to avoid exposing the inclinations 
of her heart to the scrutiny of so many inquisitors, engaged the 
Duke of York to undertake the journey before mentioned, 
whilst the queen and her court were at Tunbridge. 

This conduct was prudent ; and, if agreeable to her, was far 
from displeasing to any of her court, except Miss Jennings: 
Jermyn was not of the party ; and, in her opinion, every party 
was insipid in which he was not one of the company. He had 
engaged himself in an enterprise above his strength, in laying a 
wager which the Chevalier de Grammont had laid before, and 
lost. He betted five hundred guineas that he would ride twenty 
miles in one hour upon the same horse, in the high road. The 
day he had fixed upon for this race was the very same in 
which Miss Jennings went to the fortune-teller's. 

Jermyn was more fortunate than her in this undertaking : 
he came off victorious ; but as his courage had far exceeded 
the strength of his constitution in this exertion to win the 
wager, he got a violent fever into the bargain, which brought 
him very low. Miss Jennings inquired after his health ; but 
that was all she dared to do. In modern romances, a princess 
need only pay a visit to some hero, abandoned by his physi- 
cians, a perfect cure would be wrought in three days ; but 
since Miss Jennings had not been the cause of Jermyn's fever, 
she was not certain of relieving him from it, although she had 
been sure that a charitable visit would not have been censured 
in a malicious court. Without therefore paying any attention 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 311 

to the uneasiness she might feel upon the occasion, the court 
set out without him : she had, however, the gratification to 
testify her ill-humour throughout the whole journey, by 
appearing displeased with everything which seemed to afford , 
satisfaction to all the rest of the company. 

Talbot made one of the company ; and flattering himseK 
that the absence of a dangerous rival might produce some 
change in his favour, he was attentive to all the actions, mo- 
tions, and even gestures, of his former mistress. There was 
certainly enough fully to employ his attention : it was con- 
trary to her disposition to remain long in a serious humour. 
Her natural vivacity hurried her away, from being seemingly 
lost in thought, into sallies of wit, which afforded him hopes 
that she would soon forget Jermyn, and remember that his 
•own passion was the first she had encouraged. However, he 
kept his distance, notwithstanding his love and his hopes, 
being of opinion that it ill became an injured lover to betray 
either the least weakness, or the smallest return of affection, 
for an ungrateful mistress, who had deserted him. 

Miss Jennings was so far from thinking of his resentments, 
that she did not even recollect he had ever paid his addresses 
to her; and her thoughts being wholly occupied upon the 
poor sick man, she conducted herself towards Talbot as if 
they never had had anything to say to each other. It was to 
him that she most usually gave her hand, either in getting 
into or out of the coach ; she conversed more readily with 
him than any other person, and, without intending it, did 
everything to make the court believe she was cured of her 
passion for Jermyn in favour of her former lover. 

Of this he seemed likewise convinced, as well as the rest . 
and thinking it now proper to act another part, in order to let 
her know that his sentiments with respect to her were still 



312 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

the same, he had resolved to address her in the most tender 
and affectionate manner upon this subject. Fortune seemed 
to have favoured him, and to have smoothed the way for this 
intended harangue : he was alone with her in her chamber ; 
and, what was still better, she was rallying him concerning 
Miss Boynton; saying, "that they were undoubtedly much 
obliged to him for attending them on their journey, whilst 
poor Miss Boynton had fainting fits at Tunbridge, at least 
twice every day, for love of him." Upon this discourse, Talbot 
thought it right to begin the recital of his sufferings and fidelity, 
when Miss Temple, with a paper in her hand, entered the 
room. This was a letter in verse, which Lord Eochester had 
written some time before, upon the intrigues of the two courts ; 
wherein, upon the subject of Miss Jennings, he said : " that 
Talbot had struck terror among the people of God, by hi& 
gigantic stature ; but that Jermyn, like a little David, had 
vanquished the great Goliath." Jennings, delighted with this 
allusion, read it over two or three times, thought it more en- 
tertaining than Talbot's conversation, at first heartily laughed 
at it, but soon after, with a tender air, " Poor little David I" 
said she, with a deep sigh, and turning her head on one side 
during this short reverie, she shed a few tears, which assuredly 
did not flow for the defeat of the giant. This stung Talbot ta 
the quick ; and, seeing liimself so ridiculously deceived in his 
hopes, he went abruptly out of the room, vowing never ta 
think any more of a giddy girl, whose conduct was regulated 
neither by sense nor reason ; but he did not keep his resolution. 
The other votaries of love, who were numerous in this court, 
were more successful, the journey being undertaken solely on 
that account. There were continual balls and entertainments 
upon the road ; hunting, and all other diversions, wherever 
the court halted in its progress. The tender lovers flattered 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 313 

themselves with the thought of being able to crown their hap- , 
piness as they proceeded in their journey ; and the beauties 
who governed their destiny did not forbid them to hope. Sid- 
ney paid his court with wonderful assiduity: the duchess made 
the duke take notice of his late perfect devotion to his service: 
his royal highness observed it, and agreed that he ought to be 
remembered upon the first opportunity, which happened soon 
after. 

Montagu, as before mentioned, was master of the horse to 
the duchess : he was possessed of a great deal of wit, had much 
penetration, and loved mischief. How could she bear such a 
man near her person, in the present situation of her heart ? 
This greatly embarrassed her; but Montagu's elder brother 
having, very a-propos, got himself killed where he had no 
business,* the duke obtained for Montagu the post of master 
of the horse to the queen, which the deceased enjoyed ; and 
the handsome Sidney was appointed to succeed him in the 
same employment to the duchess. All this happened accord- 
ing to her wish ; and the duke was highly pleased that he had 
found means to promote these two gentlemen at once, without 
being at the least expense. 

Miss Hobart greatly applauded these promotions : she had 
frequent and long conversations with Sidney, which, being 

* Montagu's elder brother was killed before Bergen, about August, 
1665. See Arlington's Letters, vol. ii. p. 87. His name was Edward. 
Boyer, who in his Life of Queen Anne, has made several mistakes about 
him, says he was dismissed for offending her majesty, by squeezing her 
hand. Probably he was disgraced for a time, and on that account went 
abroad. — See Continuation of Clarendon, p. 292. 
He is mentioned in the State Poems as 

Montagu, by court disaster, 

Dwindled into the wooden horse's master. 

Advice to a Painter, Part i. 



314 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

remarked, some did her the honour to believe it was upon her 
own account ; and the compliments that were made her upon 
the occasion she most willingly received. The duke, who be- 
lieved it at first, observed to the duchess the unaccountable 
taste of certain persons, and how the handsomest young fellow 
in England was infatuated with such a frightful creature. 

The duchess confessed that taste was very arbitrary ; the 
truth whereof he himself seemed to be convinced of, since he 
had fixed upon the beauteous Helen for his mistress. I know 
not whether this raillery caused him to reflect for what reasons 
he had made his choice ; but it is certain he began to cool in 
his affections for Miss Churchill ; and perhaps be would en- 
tirely have abandoned this pursuit, had not an accident taken 
place, which raised in him an entirely new inclination for her. 

The court having halted for a few days in a fine open 
country, the duchess was desirous of seeing a greyhound 
course. This diversion is practised in England upon large 
downs, where the turf, eaten by the sheep, is particularly 
green, and wonderfully even. She was in her coach, and all 
the ladies on horseback, every one of them being attended by 
her squire ; it therefore was but reasonable that the mistress 
should likewise have her squire. He accordingly was at the 
side of her coach, and seemed to compensate for his deficiencies 
in conversation, by the uncommon beauty of his mien and 
figure. 

The duke attended Miss Churchill, not for the sake of 
besieging her with soft flattering tales of love, but, on the con- 
trary, to chide her for sitting so ill on horseback : She was 
one of the most indolent creatures in the world ; and although 
the maids of honour are generally the worst mounted of the 
whole court, yet, in order to distinguish her, on account of the 
favour she enjoyed, they had given her a very pretty, though 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 315 

rather a high-spirited horse ; a distinction she would very 
willingly have excused them. 

The embarrassment and fear she was under had added to 
her natural paleness. In this situation, her countenance had 
almost completed the duke's disgust, when her horse, desirous 
of keeping pace with the others, set off in a gallop, notwith- 
standing her greatest efforts to prevent it ; and her endeavours 
to hold him in, firing his mettle, he at length set off at full 
speed, as if he was running a race against the duke's horse. 

Miss Churchill lost her seat, screamed out, and fell from 
her horse. A fall in so quick a pace must have been violent ; 
and yet it proved favourable to her in every respect ; for, with- 
out receiving any hurt, she gave the lie to all the unfavourable 
suppositions that had been formed of her person, in judging 
from her face. The duke alighted, in order to help her : she 
was so greatly stunned, that her thoughts were otherwise em- 
ployed than about decency on the present occasion ; and those 
who first crowded around her found her rather in a negligent 
posture : they could hardly believe that limbs of such ex- 
quisite beauty could belong to Miss Churchill's face. After 
this accident, it was remarked that the duke's tenderness and 
affection for her increased every day; and, towards the end of 
the winter, it appeared that she had not tyrannized over his 
passion, nor made him languish with impatience. 

The two courts returned to London much about the same 
time, equally satisfied with their respective excursions ; though 
the queen was disappointed in the hopes she had entertained 
of the good effects of the Tunbridge waters. 

It was about this time that the Chevalier de Grammont 
received a letter from the Marchioness de Saint-Chaumont, 
his sister, acquainting him, that he might return when he 
thought proper, the king having given him leave. He would 



316 MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

have received this news with joy at any other time, whatever 
had been the charms of the English court ; but, in the present 
situation of his heart, he could not resolve to quit it. 

He had returned from Tunbridge a thousand times deeper 
in love than ever ; for, during this agreeable excursion, he had 
every day seen Miss Hamilton, either in the marshes of melan- 
choly Peckham. or in the delicious walks of cheerful Summer- 
hill, or in the daily diversions and entertainments of the 
queen's court ; and whether he saw her on horseback, heard 
her conversation, or observed her in the dance, still he was 
persuaded that Heaven had never formed an object in every 
respect more worthy of the love, and more deserving of the affec- 
tion, of a man of sense and delicacy. How then was it pos- 
sible for him to bear the thoughts of leaving her ? This ap- 
peared to him absolutely impracticable ; however, as he was 
desirous of making a merit with her, of the determination he 
had made to neglect his fortune, rather than to be separated 
from her charms, he showed her his sister's letter : but this 
confidence had not the success he expected. 

Miss Hamilton, in the first place, congratulated him upon his 
recall : She returned him many thanks for the sacrifice he in- 
tended to make her ; but as this testimony of affection greatly 
exceeded the bounds of mere gallantry, however sensibly she 
might feel this mark of his tenderness, she was, however, deter- 
mined not to abuse it. In vain did he protest that he would 
rather meet death than part from her irresistible charms ; and 
her irresistible charms protested that he should never see 
them more, unless he departed immediately. Thus was he 
forced to obey. However, he was allowed to flatter himself, 
that these positive orders, how harsh soever they might appear, 
did not flow from indifference ; that she would always be more 
pleased with his return than with his departure, for which she 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 317 

was now so urgent ; and having generously given him assur- 
ances that, so far as depended upon herself, he would find, 
upon his return, no variation in her sentiments during his 
absence, he took leave of his friends, thinking of nothing but 
his return, at the very time he was making preparations for 
his departure. 



318 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 



CHAPTER XI. 

The nearer the Chevalier de Crammont approached the court 
of France, the more did he regret his absence from that of 
England ; not but that he expected a gracious reception at 
the feet of his master, whose anger no one provoked with im- 
punity ; but who likewise knew how to pardon, in such a 
manner as to make the favour he conferred in every respect to 
be felt. 

A thousand different thoughts occupied his mind upon the 
journey : Sometimes he reflected upon the joy and satisfaction 
his friends and relations would experience upon his return ; 
sometimes upon the congratulations and embraces of those 
who, being neither the one nor the other, would, nevertheless, 
overwhelm him with impertinent compliments : All these 
ideas passed quickly through his head ; for a man deeply in 
love makes it a scruple of conscience not to suffer any other 
thoughts to dwell upon his mind than those of the object 
beloved. It was then the tender, endearing remembrance of 
what he had left in London that diverted his thoughts from 
Paris ; and it was the torments of absence that prevented his 
feeling those of the bad roads and the bad horses. His heart 
protested to Miss Hamilton, between Montreuil and Abbeville 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 319 

that he only tore himself from her with such haste, to return 
the sooner ; after which, by a short reflection, comparing the 
regret he had formerly felt upon the same road, in quitting 
France for England, with^that which he now experienced, in 
quitting England for France, he found the last much more 
insupportable than the former. 

It is thus that a man in love entertains himself upon the 
road; or rather, it is thus that a trifling writer abuses the 
patience of his reader, either to display his own sentiments, or 
to lengthen out a tedious story ; but God forbid that this 
character should apply to ourselves, since we profess to insert 
nothing in these memoirs, but what we have heard from the 
mouth of him whose actions and sayings we transmit to pos- 
terity. 

Who, except Squire Feraulas, has ever been able to keep a 
register of all the thoughts, sighs, and exclamations, of his 
illustrious master ? For my own part, I should never have 
thought that the attention of the Count de Grammont, which 
is at present so sensible to inconveniences and dangers, would 
have ever permitted him to entertain amorous thoughts upon 
the road, if he did not himself dictate to me what I am now 
writing. 

But let us speak of him at Abbeville. The postmaster 
was his old acquaintance : His hotel was the best provided 
of any between Calais and Paris ; and the Chevalier de Gram- 
mont, alighting, told Termes he would drink a glass of wine 
during the time they were changing horses. It was about 
noon ; and, since the preceding night, when they had landed 
at Calais, until this instant, they had not eat a single mouth- 
ful. Termes, praising the Lord, that natural feelings had for 
once prevailed over the inhumanity of his usual impatience, 
confirmed him as much as possible in such reasonable senti- 
ments. 



320 ' MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 

Upon their entering the kitchen, where the Chevalier gener- 
ally paid his first visit, they were surprised to see half a 
dozen spits loaded with game at the fire, and every other 
preparation for a magnificent entertainment. The heart of 
Termes leaped for joy : he gave private orders to the hostler 
to pull the shoes off some of the horses, that he might not 
he forced away from this place before he had satisfied his 
craving appetite. 

Soon after, a number of violins and hautboys, attended by 
all the mob of the town, entered the court. The landlord, 
being asked the reason of these great preparations, acquainted 
the Chevalier de Grammont that they were for the wedding 
of one of the most wealthy gentlemen in the neighbourhood, 
with one of the handsomest girls in the whole province ; 
that the entertainment was to be at his house ; and that, if 
his lordship chose to stop, in a very short time he would see 
the new-married couple arrive from the church, since the 
music was already come. He was right in his conjectures ; 
for these words were scarce out of his mouth, when three 
uncommonly large coaches, loaded with lackeys, as tall as 
Swiss, with most gaudy liveries, all covered with lace, ap- 
peared in the court, and disembarked the whole wedding 
company. Never was country magnificence more naturally 
displayed : Eusty tinsel, tarnished lace, striped silks, little 
eyes, and full swelling breasts, appeared on every side. 

If the first sight of the procession surprised the Chevalier 
de Grammont, faithful Termes was no less astonished at the 
second. The little that was to be seen of the bride's face 
appeared not without beauty; but no judgment could be 
formed of the remainder : Four dozen of patches, at least, 
and ten ringlets of hair, on each side, most completely con- 
cealed her from all human eyes ; but it was the bridegroom 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT, 321 

who most particularly attracted the Chevalier de G-rammont's 
attention. 

He was as ridiculously dressed as the rest of the company, 
except a coat of the greatest magnificence, and of the most 
exquisite taste. The Chevalier de Grammont, walking up to 
him to examine his dress, began to commend the embroidery 
of his coat. The bridegroom thought himself much honoured 
by this examination, and told him he bought it for one hun- 
dred and fifty louis, at the time he was paying his addresses 
to his wife. " Then you did not get it made here V said the 
Chevalier de G-rammorit. " N'o," replied the other ; " I bought 
it of a London merchant, who had ordered it for an English 
lord." The Chevalier de Grammont, who now began to 
perceive in what manner the adventure would end, asked 
him if he should recollect the merchant if he saw him 
again ? " Eecollect him !" replied the other, " I surely ought ; 
for I was obliged to sit up drinking with him all night at 
Calais, as I was endeavouring to beat down the price." Termes 
had vanished out of sight as soon as ever this coat appeared, 
though he little supposed that the cursed bridegroom would 
have any conversation concerning it with his master. 

The Chevalier's thoughts were some time wavering between 
his inclination to laugh, and a desire of hanging Master 
Termes ; but the long habit of suffering himself to be robbed 
by his domestics, together with the vigilance of the criminal, 
whom his master could not reproach with having slept in his 
service, inclined him to clemency ; and yielding to the impor- 
tunities of the country gentleman, in order to confound his 
faithful servant, he sat down to table, to make the thirty- 
seventh of the company. 

A short time after, he desired one of the waiters to caU 
for a gentleman whose name was Termes. He immediately 

21 



322 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

appeared ; and as soon as the master of the feast saw him, he 
rose from table, and offering him his hand ; " Welcome, my 
friend," said he ; " you see that I have taken good care of the 
coat which you sold me with so much reluctance, and that I 
have kept it for a good purpose." 

Termes, having put on a face of brass, pretended not to 
know him, and pushed him back with some degree of rude- 
ness. " No, no !" said the other ; " since I was obliged to 
sit up with you the whole night, in order to strike the bar- 
gain, you shall pledge me in the bride's health." The Cheva- 
lier de Grammont, who saw that Termes was disconcerted, 
notwithstanding his impudence, said to him with a smile : 
" Come, come, my good London merchant, sit down, as you 
are so civilly invited : we are not so crowded at table but 
that there will be room enough for such an honest gentleman 
as yourself." At these words five-and-thirty of the guests 
were in motion to receive this new visitor : the bride alone, 
out of an idea of decorum, remained seated ; and the audacious 
Termes, having swallowed the first shame of this adventure, 
began to lay about him at such a rate, as if it had been his 
intention to swallow all the wine provided for the wedding, 
if his master had not risen from the table as they were taking 
off four-and-twenty soups, to serve up as many other dishes in 
their stead. 

The company were not so unreasonable as to desire a man 
who was in such haste to remain to the end of a wedding din- 
ner ; but they all got up when he arose from table, and all 
that he could obtain from the bridegroom was that the com- 
pany should not attend him to the gate of the inn. As for 
Termes, he wished they had not quitted him till the end of 
their journey, so much did he dread being left alone with his 
master. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 323 

They had advanced some distance from Abbeville, and were 
proceeding on in the most profound silence, when Termes, who 
expected an end to it in a short time, was only solicitous in 
what manner it might happen, whether his master would 
attack him with a torrent of invectives, and certain epithets 
which were most justly his due, or whether, in an insulting, 
ironical manner, he might make use of such commendations 
as were most likely to confound him ; but finding, instead of 
either, that he remained in sullen silence, he thought it prudent 
rather to prevent the speech the Chevalier was meditating than 
to suffer him to think longer about it ; and, accordingly, arm- 
ing himself with all his effrontery : " You seem to be very 
angry. Sir," said he, " and I suppose you think you have rea- 
son for being so ; but the devil take me, if you are not mistaken 
in reality." 

" How ! traitor ! in reality ?" said the Chevalier de G-ram- 
mont. " It is then because I have not had thee well thrashed, 
as thou hast for a long time merited." " Look ye, Sir," replied 
Termes, " you always run into a passion, instead of listening 
to reason ! Yes, Sir, I mauitain that what I did was for your 
benefit." " And was not the quicksand likewise for my ser- 
vice ?" said the ChevaKer de G-rammont. " Have patience, if 
you please," pursued the other : " I know not how that simple- 
ton of a bridegroom happened to be at the custom-house when 
my portmanteau was examined at Calais: but these silly 
cuckolds thrust in their noses everywhere. As soon as ever 
he saw your coat, he fell in love mth it. I immediately per- 
ceived he was a fool; for he fell down upon his knees, beseech- 
ing me to sell it him. Besides being greatly rumpled in the 
portmanteau, it was all stained in front by the sweat of the 
horses. I wonder how the devil he has managed to get it 
cleaned ; but, faith, I am the greatest scoundrel in the world, 

21—2 



324 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

if you would ever have put it on. In a word, it cost you one 
hundred and forty louis d'ors, and seeing he offered me one hun- 
dred and fifty for it ; 'My master/ said I, 'has no occasion for 
this tinselled bauble to distinguish him at the ball ; and, 
although he was pretty full of cash when I left him, how know 
I in what situation he may be upon my return ? there is no 
certainty at play/ To be brief, Sir, I got ten louis d'ors for it 
more than it cost you : this you see is all clear profit: I will be 
accountable to you for it, and you know that I am sufficiently 
substantial to make good such a sum. Confess now, do you 
think you would have appeared to greater advantage at the 
ball, if you had been dressed out in that damned coat, which 
would have made you look just like the village bridegroom to 
whom we sold it ? and yet how you stormed at London when 
you thought it lost ; what fine stories you told the king about 
the quicksand ; and how churlish you looked, when you first 
began to suppose that this country looby wore it at his 
wedding !" 

What could the Chevalier reply to such uncommon impu- 
dence ? If he indulged his resentment, he must either have 
most severely bastinadoed him, or he must have discarded 
him, as the easiest escape the rogue could expect ; but he had 
occasion for him during the remainder of his journey ; and, as 
soon as he was at Paris, he had occasion for him for his return. 

The Marechal de Grammont had no sooner notice of liis 
arrival than he went to him at the hotel ; and, the first em- 
braces being over on both sides, " Chevalier," said the Mare- 
chal, "how many days have you been in coming from London 
hither ? for God knows at what a rate you travel on such oc- 
casions." The Chevalier told him he had been three days 
upon the road ; and, to excuse himself for making no more 
haste, he related to him his AbbeviUe adventure. " It is a 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 325 

very entertaining one," said his brother ; " but what is yet 
more entertaining is, that it will be your fault if you do not find 
your coat still at table ; for the country gentry are not accus- 
tomed to rise very soon from a wedding dinner." And then, 
in a very serious tone, told him, " he knew not who had ad- 
vised him to this unexpected return, which might probably 
ruin all his affairs ; but he had orders from the king to bid him 
go back again without appearing at court. He told him after- 
wards that he was very much astonished at his impatience, as, 
till this time, he had conducted himself uncommonly well, 
and was sufficiently acquainted with the king's temper to 
know that the only way to merit his pardon was to wait until 
it freely came from his clemency." 

The Chevalier, in justification of his conduct, produced 
Madame de Saint Chaumont's letter, and told the Mardchal 
that he would very willingly have spared her the trouble of 
writing him such kind of news, to occasion him so useless a 
journey. " Still more indiscretion," replied his brother ; "for, 
pray how long has our sister being either secretary of state or 
minister, that she should be employed by the king to make 
known his majesty's order ? Do you wish to know the real 
state of the case ? Some time ago the king told Madame^ 

* Henrietta, youngest daughter of Charles the First, born at Exeter 
16th June, 1644, from whence she was removed to London in 1646, and, 
with her governess, Lady Dalkeith, soon afterwards conveyed to France . 
On the restoration, she came over to England with her mother, but 
returned to France in about six months, and was married to Philip, 
Duke of Orleans, only brother of Louis XI Y. In May, 1670, she came 
again to Dover, on a mission of a political nature, it is supposed, from 
the French king to her brother, in which she was successful. She died, 
soon after her return to France, suddenly, not without suspicion of 
having been poisoned by her husband. King James, in his Diary, says, 
'* On the 22d of June, the news of the Duchess of Orleans' death arrived. 
It was suspected that counter-poisons were given her ; but when she 



326 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

liow you had refused the pension the King of England offered 
you : he appeared pleased with the manner in which Com- 
minges had related to him the circumstances attending it, and 
said he was pleased with you for it : Madame interpreted this 
as an order for your recal ; and Madame de Saint Chaumont 
being very far from possessing that wonderful discretion she 
imagines herself mistress of, she hastened to despatch to you 
this consequential order in her own hand. To conclude ; 
Madame said yesterday, when the king was at dinner, that you 
would very soon be here ; and the king, as soon as dinner was 
over, commanded me to send you back as soon as you arrived. 
Here you are ; set off again immediately." 

This order might have appeared severe to the Chevalier de 
Grammont at any other time ; but, in the present state of his 
heart, he soon resolved upon obeying. I^othing gave him un- 
easiness but the officious advice which had obliged him to 
leave the English court ; and being entirely unconcerned that 
he was not allowed to see the French court before his depar- 
ture, he only desired the Marechal to obtain leave for him to 
stay a few days to collect in some play debts which were 
owing him. This request was granted, on condition that he 
should not remain in Paris. 

He chose Vaugirard for his retreat : it was there that he 
had several adventures which he so often related in so humo- 



was opened, in the presence of the English ambassador, the Earl of 
Ailesbury, an English physician and surgeon, there appeared no grounds, 
of suspicion of any foul play. Yet Bucks talked openly that she was 
poisoned ; and was so violent as to propose to foreign ministers to make 
war on France." — Macpherson^s Origiiial Paj^ers, vol. i. At the end 
of Lord Arlington's Letters are five very remarkable ones from a person 
of quality, who is said to have been actually on the spot, giving a par- 
ticular relation of her death. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 327 

rous and diverting a manner, that it would be tedious to repeat 
them ; there it was that he administered the sacrament in so 
solemn a manner, that, as there did not remain a sufficient 
number of Swiss at Yersailles to guard the chapel, Yardes was 
obliged to acquaint the king that they were all gone to the 
Chevalier de Grammont, who was administering the sacrament 
at Vaugirard : there likewise happened that wonderful adven- 
ture which threw the first slur upon the reputation of the 
great Saucourt, when, having a tete-a-tete with the gardener's 
daughter, the horn, which was agreed upon as the signal to 
prevent surprises, was sounded so often, that the frequent 
alarms cooled the courage of the celebrated Saucourt, and 
rendered useless the assignation that was procured for him with 
one of the prettiest girls in the neighbourhood. It was, Kke- 
wise, during his stay at Vaugirard, that he paid a visit to 
Mademoiselle de I'Hopital at Issy, to inquire into the truth of 
a report of an amour between her and a man of the long robe > 
and it was there that, on his arriving unexpectedly, the Pre- 
sident de Maisons was forced to take refuge in a closet, with 
so much precipitation, that half of his robe remained on the 
outside when he shut the door ; while the Chevalier de Gram- 
mont, who observed it, made his visit excessively long, in 
order to keep the two lovers upon the rack. 

His business being settled, he set out for England on the 
wings of love. Termes redoubled his vigilance upon the road. 
The post horses were ready in an instant at every stage : the 
winds and tides favoured his impatience; and he reached 
London with the highest satisfaction. The court was both 
surprised and charmed at his sudden return. 'No person con- 
doled with him upon his late disappointment, which had occa- 
sioned him to come back, as he testified no manner of uneasi- 
ness concerning it himself : nor was Miss Hamilton in the 



328 MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

least displeased at his readiness in obeying the orders of the 
king his master. 

Nothing new had happened in the English court during his 
short absence ; but it assumed a different aspect soon after his 
return : I mean with respect to love and pleasure, which 
were the most serious concerns of the court during the greatest 
part of this gay reign. 

The Duke of Monmouth,"^ natural son to Charles the Second, 
now made his first appearance in his father's court. His en- 
trance upon the stage of the world was so brilliant, his ambi- 

* James Duke of Monmoiitli, was the son of Charles the II., by one 
Lucy Walters. He was born at Eotterdam, April 9, 1649, and bore the 
na me of James Crofts until the restoration. His education was chiefly 
at Paris, under the eye of the queen-mother, and the government of 
Thomas Ross, Esq., who was afterwards secretary to Mr. Coventry 
during his embassy in Sweden. At the restoration, he was brought to 
England, and received with joy by his father, who heaped honours and 
riches upon him, which were not sufficient to satisfy his ambitious views. 
To exclude his uncle, the Duke of York, from the throne, he was con- 
tinually intriguing with the opposers of government, and was frequently 
in disgrace with his sovereign. On the accession of James II. he made 
an inefiectual attempt to raise a rebellion, was taken prisoner, and 
beheaded on Tower-hill, 15th July, 1685. Mr. Macpherson has drawn 
his character in the following terms : " Monmouth, highly beloved by 
the populace, was a fit instrument to carry forward his (z. e. Shaftes- 
bury's) designs. To a gracefulness which prejudiced mankind in his 
favour as soon as seen, he joined an affability which gained their love. 
Constant in his friendships, and just to his word, by nature tender, and 
an utter enemy to severity and cruelty, active and vigorous in his con- 
stitution, he excelled in the manly exercises of the field. He was per- 
sonally brave. He loved the pomp and the very dangers of war. But 
with these splendid qualities, he was vain to a degree of folly, versatile 
in his measures, weak in his understanding. He was ambitious without 
dignity, busy without consequence, attempting ever to be artful, but 
always a fool. Thus, taking the applause of the multitude for a certain 
mark of merit, he was the dupe of his own vanity, and owed all his mis- 
fortunes to that weakness." — History of England, vol. i., chap. iii. 




i.VTT w\_\jn.^C)^v^u-u,j^^-^v{^:' -^\^ate:rs 







'J3 1^ ik:e. n 1^ >i vf.) ^ i>i n T- ' p 11 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 329 

tion had occasioned so many considerable events, and the par- 
ticulars of his tragical end are so recent, that it were needless 
to produce any other traits to give a sketch of his character. 
By the whole tenor of his life, he appeared to "be rash in his 
undertakings, irresolute in the execution, and dejected in his 
misfortunes, in which, at least, an undaunted resolution ought 
to equal the greatness of the attempt. 

His figure and the exterior graces of his person were such, 
that nature perhaps never formed anything more complete : 
His face was extremely handsome ; and yet it was a manly 
face, neither inanimate nor effeminate ; each feature having its 
beauty and peculiar delicacy : He had a wonderful genius for 
every sort of exercise, an engaging aspect, and an air of gran- 
deur : in a word, he possessed every personal advantage ; but 
then he was greatly deficient in mental accomplishments. He 
had no sentiments but such as others inspired him with ; and 
those who first insinuated themselves into his friendship, took 
care to inspire him with none but such as were pernicious. 
The astonishing beauty of his outward form caused universal 
admiration : those who before were looked upon as handsome 
were now entirely forgotten at court : and all the gay and 
beautiful of the fair sex were at his devotion. He was parti- 
cularly beloved by the king ; but the universal terror of hus- 
bands and lovers. This, however, did not long continue ; for 
nature not having endowed him with qualifications to secure 
the possession of the heart, the fair sex soon perceived the 
-defect. 

The Duchess of Cleveland was out of humour with the 
king, because the children she had by his majesty were like 
so many little puppets, compared to this new Adonis. She 
was the more particularly hurt, as she might have boasted of 
being the queen of love, in comparison with the duke's mother. 



330 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

The king, however, laughed at her reproaches, as, for some tinie, 
she had certainly no right to make any ; and, as this piece of 
jealousy appeared to be more ill-founded than any she had 
formerly affected, no person approved of her ridiculous resent- 
ment. Not succeeding in this, she formed another scheme to 
give the king uneasiness : Instead of opposing his extreme 
tenderness for his son, she pretended to adopt him, in her affec- 
tion, by a thousand commendations and caresses, which she 
was daily and continually increasing. As these endearments 
were public, she imagined they could not be suspected ; but 
she was too well known for her real design to be mistaken. 
The king was no longer jealous of her ; but, as the Duke of 
Monmouth was of an age not to be insensible to the attractions 
of a woman possessing so many charms, he thought it proper to 
withdraw him from this pretended mother-in-law, to preserve 
his innocence, or at least his fame, uncontaminated : it was 
for this reason, therefore, that the king married him so young. 
An heiress of five thousand pounds a-year in Scotland,^ 

* This was Lady Anne Scott, daughter and sole heir of Francis, Earl 
of Buccleiigh, only son and heir of Walter, Lord Scott, created Earl of 
Buccleugh in 1619. On their marriage the duke took the surname of 
Scott, and he and his lady were created Duke and Duchess of Buccleugh, 
Earl and Countess of Dalkeith, Baron and Baroness of Whitchester and 
Ashdale in Scotland, by letters patent, dated April 20th, 1673. Also, 
two days after he was installed at Windsor, the king and queen, the 
Duke of York, and most of the court being present. The next day, 
being St. George's day, his majesty solemnized it with a royal feast, and 
entertained the knights companions in St. George's hall in the castle of 
Windsor. Though there were several children of this marriage, it does 
not appear to have been a happy one ; the duke, without concealment, 
attaching himself to Lady Harriet Wentworth, whom, with his dying 
breath, he declared he considered as his only wife in the sight of God. 
The duchess, in May, 1688, took to her second husband Charles, Lord 
Cornwallis. She died Feb. 6, 1731-32, in the 81st year of her age, 
and was buried at Dalkeith in Scotland. Our author is not more 




1^ v rjiiR s s D^^ m. o :>T :m .d i- t i-i 



r 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 331 

offered very a-propos : lier person was full of charms, and 
her mind possessed all those perfections in which the hand- 
some Monmouth was deficient. 

New festivals and entertainments celebrated this marriage. 
The most effectual method to pay court to the king, was to 
outshine the rest in brilliancy and grandeur ; and whilst these 
rejoicings brought forward all manner of gallantry and magni- 
ficence, they either revived old, or established new amours. 

The fair Stewart, then in the meridian of her glory, attracted 
all eyes, and commanded universal respect and admiration. 
The Duchess of Cleveland endeavoured to eclipse her at this 
fete, by a load of jewels, and by all the artificial ornaments of 
dress ; but it was in vain : her face looked rather thin and 
pale, from the commencement of a third or fourth pregnancy, 
which the king was still pleased to place to his own account ; 
and, as for the rest, her person could in no respect stand in 
competition with the grace and beauty of Miss Stewart. 

It was during this last effort of her charms, that she would 
have been queen of England, had the king been as free to give 
his hand as he was to surrender his heart : for it was at this 
time that the Duke of Eichmond took it into his head either 
to marry her, or to die in the attempt. 

A few months after the celebration of the Duke of Mon- 
mouths's nuptials, Killegrew,* having nothing better to do, 

correct about figures than he avows himself to be in the arrange- 
ment of facts and dates : the duchess's fortune was much greater than 
he has stated it to have been. 

* Thomas Killegrew was one of the sons of Sir Kobert Killegrew, 
chamberlain to the queen, and was born at Hanworth, in the county of 
Middlesex, in the month of February, 1611. He seems to have been 
early intended for the court, and to qualify him for rising there, every 
circumstance of his education appears to have been adapted. He was 
appointed page of honour to King Charles I., and faithfully adhered to 



332 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

fell in love with Lady Shrewsbury ; and, as Lady Shrewsbury, 
by a very extraordinary chance, had no engagement at that 
time, their amour was soon established. No one thought of 
interrupting an intimacy which did not concern any one ; 
but Killegrew thought proper to disturb it himself 'Not that 
his happiness fell short of his expectation, nor did possession 
put him out of love with a situation so enviable ; but he was 
amazed that he was not envied, and offended that his good 
fortune raised him no rivals. 

his cause until the death of his master ; after which he attended his son 
in his exile; to whom he was highly acceptable, on account of his social 
and convivial qualifications. He married Mrs. Cecilia Crofts, one of the 
maids of honour to Queen Henrietta. In 1651 he was sent to Venice, as 
resident at that state, although, says Lord Clarendon, "the king was much 
dissuaded from it, but afterwards his majesty was prevailed upon, only to 
gratify him, that in that capacity he might borrow money of English mer- 
chants for his own subsistence; which he did, and nothing to the honour of 
his master; but was at last compelled to leave the republic for his vicious 
behaviour ; of which the Venetian ambassador complained to the king, 
when he came afterwards to Paris." On his return from Venice, Sir 
John Denham wrote a copy of verses, printed in his works, bantering 
the foibles of his friend Killegrew ; who, from his account, was as little 
sensible to the miseries of exile as his royal master. His attachment 
to the interests of Charles II. continued unabated, and at the restora- 
tion he was appointed groom of the bed-chamber, and became so great 
a favourite with his majesty, that he was admitted into his company on 
terms of the most unrestrained familiarity, when audience was refused 
to the first ministers, and even on the most important occasions. It does 
not appear that he availed himself of his interest with the king, either 
to amass a fortune, or to advance himself in the state : We do not find 
that he obtained any other preferment than the post of master of the 
revels, which he held with that of groom of the bed-chamber. Oldys 
says he was king's jester at the same time ; but although he might, and 
certainly did, entertain his majesty in that capacity, it can scarce be 
imagined to have been in consequence of any appointment of that kind. 
He died at Whitehall, 19th March, 1682, bewailed, as it is said, by his 
friends, and truly wept for by the poor. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 333 

He possessed a great deal of wit, and still more eloquence, 
which most particularly displayed itself when he was a little 
elevated with the juice of the grape : he then indulged him- 
self in giving luxurious descriptions of Lady Shrewsbury's 
most secret charms and beauties, which above lialf the court 
were as well acquainted with as himself. 

The Duke of Buckingham was one of those who could only 
judge from outward appearances : and appearances, in his 
opinion, did not seem to promise any thing so exquisite as the 
extravagant praises of Killegrew would infer. As this indis- 
creet lover was a frequent guest at the Duke of Buckingham's 
table, he was continually employing his rhetoric on this sub- 
ject, and he had full opportunity for his harangues ; for they 
generally sat down to dinner at four o'clock, and only rose 
just in time for the play in the evening. 

The Duke of Buckingham, whose ears were continually 
deafened with descriptions of Lady Shrewsbury's merits, 
resolved at last to examine into the truth of the matter him- 
self. As soon as he had made the experiment, he was satis- 
fied ; and, though he fancied that fame did not exceed the 
truth, yet this intrigue began in such a manner, that it was 
generally believed its duration would be short, considering 
the fickleness of both parties, and the vivacity with which 
they had engaged in it : nevertheless, no amour in England 
ever continued so long. 

The imprudent Killegrew, who could not be satisfied with- 
out rivals, was obliged, in the end, to be satisfied without a 
mistress. This he bore very impatiently; but so far was 
Lady Shrewsbury from hearkening to, or affording any re- 
dress for the grievances at first complained of, that she pre- 
tended even not to know him. His spirit could not brook 
such treatment ; and, without ever considering that he was 



334 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

the author of his own disgrace, he let loose all his abusive 
eloquence against her ladyship : he attacked her with the 
most bitter invectives from head to foot : he drew a frightful 
picture of her conduct ; and turned all her personal charms, 
which he used to extol, into defects. He was privately 
warned of the inconveniences to which, these declamations 
might subject him, but despised the advice, and, persisting, 
he soon had reason to repent it. 

As he was returnino^ one evening^ from the Duke of York's 
apartments at St. James's, three passes with a sword were 
made at him through his chair, one of which went entirely 
through his arm. Upon this, he was sensible of the danger 
to which his intemperate tongue had exposed -him, over and 
above the loss of his mistress. The assassins made their 
escape across the Park, not doubting but they liad dispatched 
him. 

Killegrew thought that all complaints would be useless ; 
for what redress from justice could he expect for an attempt 
of which his wounds were his only evidence ? And, besides, 
he was convinced that if he began a prosecution founded 
upon appearances and conjectures, the parties concerned 
would take the shortest and most effectual means to put a 
stop to all inquiries upon the subject, and that their second 
attempt would not prove ineffectual. Being desirous, there- 
fore, of deserving mercy from those who had endeavoured to 
assassinate him, he no longer continued his satires, and said 
not a word of the adventure. The Duke of Buckingham 
and Lady Shrewsbury remained for a long period both happy 
and contented.* Never before had her constancy been of so 

* In a letter from Andrew Marvel, dated August 9, 1671, he says, 
"Buckingham runs out all with the Lady Shrewsbury, whom he believes 
he had a son (by,) to whom the king stood godfather : It died young 




ID IJ € TL :iK '3 S ^.xf TEs ^r ,r, tk]! l^v- qj, MiVT^l 



' 



I 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 335 

long a duration ; nor had he ever been so submissive and re- 
spectful a lover. 

This continued until Lord Shrewsbury, who never before 
had shown the least uneasiness at his lady's misconduct, 
thought proper to resent this : it was public enough, indeed, 
but less dishonourable to her than any of her former in- 
trigues. Poor Lord Shrewsbury, too polite a man to make 
any reproaches to his wife, was resolved to have redress for 
his injured honour : he accordingly challenged the Duke ot 
Buckingham ; and the Duke of Buckingham, as a reparation 
for his honour, having killed him upon the spot, remained a 
peaceable possessor of this famous Helen. The public was 
at first shocked at the transaction; but the public grows 
familiar with everything by habit, and by degrees both 
decency, and even virtue itself, are rendered tame, and over- 
come. The queen was at the head of those who exclaimed 
against so public and scandalous a crime, and against the 
impunity of such a wicked act. As the Duchess of Buck- 
ingham * was a short fat body, like her majesty, who never 



Earl of Coventry, and was buried in the sepulchre of his fathers." — 
MarveVs Works, vol. i., p. 406. The duel in which the Earl of Shrews- 
bury was killed by the Duke of Buckingham happened 16th March, 
1667. 

^ "Mary, Duchess of Buckingham, was the only daughter of Thomas, 
Lord Fairfax, and Anne, the daughter of Horace, Lord Yere ; a most 
virtuous and pious lady, in a vicious age and court. If she had any of 
the vanities, she had certainly none of the vices of it. The duke and 
she lived lovingly and decently together; she patiently bearing with 
those faults in him which she could not remedy. She survived him many 
years, and died near St. James's, at Westminster, and was buried in the 
vault of the family of Villiers, in Henry VII.'s chapel, anno 1705, 
setat. 66." — Brian Fairfax's Life of the Duke of Buckingham, 4to, 
1758, p. 39. She was married at Nun Appleton, September 6, 1657. 
In the Memoirs of the English Court, by Madame Dunois, p. 11, it is 



336 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

had had any children, and whom her husband had abandoned 
for another ; this sort of parallel in their situations interested 
the queen in her favour ; but it was all in vain : no person 
paid any attention to them ; the licentiousness of the age 
went on uncontrolled, though the queen endeavoured to raise 
up the serious part of the nation, the politicians and devotees,, 
as enemies against it. 

The fate of this princess was in many cases truly melan- 
choly : The king, indeed, paid her every outward attention ; 
but that was all : She easily perceived that the respect he 
entertained for her daily .diminished, in proportion as the 
credit of her rivals increased : She saw that the king her hus- 
band was now totally indifferent about legitimate children, 
since his all-charming mistresses bore him others. As all 



said, " the Duchess of Buckingham has merit and virtue ; she is brown 
and lean, but had she been the most beautiful and charming of her sex, 
the being his wife would have been sufficient alone to have inspired him 
with a dislike. Notwithstanding she knew he was always intriguing, 
yet she never spoke of it, and had complaisance enough to entertain his 
mistresses, and even to lodge them in her house ; all which she suffered 
because she loved him." In some manuscript notes in Oldys' copy of 
Langbaine, by a gentleman still living, we are told that the old Lady 
Viscountess de Longueville, grandmother to the Earl of Sussex, who died 
in 1763, aged near 100, used to tell many little anecdotes of Charles II.'s 
queen, whom she described as a little ungraceful woman, so short legged,, 
that when she stood upon her feet, you would have thought she was on 
her knees, and yet so long waisted, that when she sat down she 
appeared a well-sized woman. She also described the Duchess of 
Buckingham, to whom she was related, as much such another in person 
as the queen; a little round crumpled woman, very fond of finery. She 
remembered paying her a visit when she (the duchess) was in mourning, 
at which time she found her lying on a sofa, with a kind of loose robe 
over her, all edged or laced with gold. This circumstance gives credit 
to Fairfax's observation above, that if she had any of the vanities, she 
had certainly none of the vices of the court. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 337 

the happiness of her life depended upon that blessing, and as 
she flattered herself that the king would prove kinder to her 
if Heaven would vouchsafe to grant her desires, she had re- 
course to all the celebrated secrets against sterility: pious 
vows, nine days' prayers, and offerings having been tried in all 
manners, but all to no purpose, she was at last obliged to 
return to natural means. 

What would she have given on this occasion for the ring 
which Archbishop Turpin wore on his finger, and which 
made Charlemagne run after him, in the same manner as it 
had made him run after one of his concubines, from whose 
finger Turpin had taken it after her death ! But it is now 
many years since the only talismans for creating love are the 
charms of the person beloved, and foreign enchantments have 
been looked upon as ineffectual. The queen's physicians, 
men of great prudence, sagacity, and wisdom, as they always 
are, having duly weighed and considered that the cold waters 
of Tunbridge had not succeeded in the preceding year, con- 
cluded that it would be advisable for her to try the warm 
baths at Bristol. ^ This journey was therefore fixed for the 
next season ; and in the confidence of its proving effectual, 
this excursion would have afforded her much pleasure, if the 
most dangerous of her rivals had not been one of the first 
that was appointed to attend the court. The Duchess of 
Cleveland being then near her time, there was no uneasiness 
on her account : the common rules of decency required a 
little attention. The public, it is true, was not either more 
or less acquainted with the circumstances of her situation ; 

* I believe that Bath, not Bristol, is the place intended by the author. 
Queen Katharine's visit to the former place was earlier than to Tun- 
bridge, being about the latter end of September, 1663. See Wood's 
Description of Bath, vol. i. p. 217. I do not find she ever was at 
Bristol, but at the time mentioned in the following extract : 

22 



338 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

by the care which she now took to conceal it ; but her 
appearing at court in her present condition would have been 
too great an insult to the queen. Miss Stewart, more hand- 
some than ever, was appointed for this excursion, and began 
to make magnificent preparations. The poor queen durst say 
nothing against it ; but all hopes of success immediately for- 
sook her. What could the baths, or the feeble virtue of the 
waters, perform against charms that entirely counteracted 
their effects, either through the grief and uneasiness they 
occasioned her, or by their still more powerful consequences ? 
Tlie Chevalier de Grammont, to whom all pleasures were 
insipid without the presence of Miss Hamilton, was yet unable 
to excuse himself from attending the court : the king delighted 
too much in his sprightly conversation to leave him behind ; 
and however pleasing his company might have been in the 
solitude occasioned by the absence of the court. Miss Hamilton 
did not think it right to accept his offer of staying in town, 
because she was obliged to remain there : she, however, granted 
him the permission of writing her an account of any news that 
might occur upon the journey. He failed not to make use of 
this permission, in such a manner as one may imagine : and 
his own concerns took up so much space in his letters, that 
there was very little room left for other subjects during his 
stay at the baths. As absence from the object of his affections 
rendered this place insupportable, he engaged in everything 



" 1663. Sir John Knight, mayor. John Broadway, Eichard Stre- 
mer, sheriffs. 

" The 5th of September, the king and queen, with James, Duke of 
York, and his Duchess, and Prince Eupert, &c., came to Bristol, and 
were splendidly received and entertained by the mayor, at a dinner 
provided on the occasion. They returned to Bath at four o'clock. 
150 pieces of ordnance were discharged in the Marsh, at three distinct 
\hm.%^"— Barrett 8 History, &c., of Bristol, p. 692. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 339 

that might dissipate his impatience, until the happy moment 
of return arrived. 

He had a great esteem for the elder of the Hamiltons ; no 
less esteem, and far more friendship for his brother, whom he 
made the confidant of his passion and attachment for his sister. 
The Chevalier was also acquainted with his first engagements 
with his cousin Wetenhall ; but being ignorant of the coldness 
that had interrupted a commerce so brisk in its commence- 
ment, he was surprised at the eagerness he showed upon all 
occasions to please Miss Stewart : his assiduity appeared to 
the Chevalier de Grammont to exceed those civilities and at- 
tentions that are usually paid for the purpose of making court 
to the favourites of princes. He observed him more strictly, 
and soon perceived that he was deeper in love with her than 
was consistent either with his fortune or his repose, ils soon 
as the remarks he made had confirmed him in his suspicions, 
he resolved to use his endeavours to prevent the consequences 
of an engagement pernicious in every respect : but he waited 
for a proper opportunity of speaking to him upon the subject. 

In the mean time, the court enjoyed every kind of diversion, 
in a place where amusement is sought with avidity. The game 
of bowls, which in France is the pastime of mechanics and 
servants only, is quite the contrary in England, where it is 
the exercise of gentlemen, and requires both art and address : 
it is only in use during the fair and dry part of the season, 
and the places where it is practised are charming, delicious 
walks, called bowling-greens, which are little square grass 
plots, where the turf is almost as smooth and level as the 
cloth of a billiard-table. As soon as the heat of the day is 
over, all the company assemble there : they play deep ; and 
spectators are at liberty to make what bets they please. 

The Chevalier de Grammont, long before initiated in the 

22—2 



340 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

English games and diversions, liad been engaged in a horse- 
race, in which he was indeed unsuccessful ; but he had the 
satisfaction of being convinced by experience, that an English 
horse can go twenty miles upon the high road in less than an 
hour. He was more fortunate at cock-fighting ; and in the 
bets he made at the bowling-green, the party he betted upon 
never failed to win. 

Near all these places of diversion there is usually a sort of 
inn, or house of entertainment, with a bower or arbour, in which 
are sold all sorts of English liquors, such as cider, mead, 
bottled beer, and Spanish wines. Here the rooks meet every 
evening to drink, smoke, and to try their skill upOn each other, 
or, in other words, to endeavour to trick one another out of 
the winnings of the day. These rooks are, properly speaking, 
what we call capons or piqueurs, in France ; men who always 
carry money about them, to enable them to lend to losing 
gamesters, for which they receive a gTatification, which is 
nothing for such as play deep, as it is only two per cent., and 
the money to be repaid the next day. 

These gentlemen are so nice in their calculations, and so 
particularly skilful in all manner of games, that no person 
would dare to enter the lists with them, were they even assured 
that no unfairness would be practised. Besides, they make a 
vow, to win four or five guineas a day, and to be satisfied with 
that gain ; a vow which they seldom or never break. 

It was in the midst of a company of these rooks, that 
Hamilton found the Chevalier de Grammont, when he called 
in one evening to get a glass of cider. They were playing at 
hazard ; and as he who holds the dice is supposed to have the 
advantage, the rooks did the Chevalier de Grammont that 
honour out of compliment: he had the dice in his hand 
when Hamilton came into the room. The rooks, secure of 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 341 

their odds, were betting against him at a high rate, and he 
took all. 

Hamilton could hardly believe his eyes, to see a man of his 
experience and knowledge engaged in so unequal a contest ; 
but it was to no purpose that he informed him of his danger, 
both aloud in French, and in private by signs ; he still dis- 
regarded his warnings, and the dice, that bore Csesar and his 
fortunes, performed a miracle in his favour. The rooks were 
defeated for the first time, but not without bestowing upon 
him all the encomiums and praises of being a very fair and 
honourable player, which they never fail to lavish upon those 
whom they wish to engage a second time ; but all their com- 
mendations were lost, and their hopes deceived : the Chevalier 
was satisfied with the first experiment. 

* Hamilton, when the king was at supper, related to him 
how he found the Chevalier de Grammont rashly engaged 
with the rooks, and in what manner he had been providen- 
tially preserved. " Indeed, Sir," said the Chevalier de Gram- 
mont, " the rooks were discomfited for once ;" and thereupon 
related the adventure to his majesty in his usual v/ay, attract- 
ing the attention of all the company, to a circumstance trifling 
in itself, but rendered interesting by his humour. 

After supper, Miss Stewart, in whose apartment there was 
play, called Hamilton to her to tell the story. The Chevalier 
de Grammont, perceiving that she attended to him with plea- 
sure, was fully confirmed in the truth of his first conjectures ; 
and, having carried Hamilton home with him to supper, they 
began to discourse freely together as usual : " George," said the 
Chevalier de Grammont, " are you in any want of money ? I 
know you love play : perhaps it may not be so favoi!irable 
to you as it is to me. We are at a great distance from 
London. Here are two hundred guineas: take them, I beseech 



342 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

you ; they will do to play with at Miss Stewart's." Hamilton, 
who little expected this conclusion, was rather disconcerted. 
*" How ! at Miss Stewart's !" " Yes, in her apartments. Friend 
George," continued the Chevalier de Grammont, " I have not 
yet lost my eyes : you are in love with her, and, if I am not 
mistaken, she is not offended at it ; but tell me how you could 
resolve to banish poor Wetenhall from your heart, and suffer 
yourself to be infatuated with a girl, who perhaps after all is 
not worth the other, and who besides, whatever favourable 
dispositions she may have for you, will undoubtedly in the 
end prove your ruin. Faith, your brother and you are two 
pretty fellows, in your choice. What ! can you find no other 
beauties in all the court to fall in love with, except the king's 
two mistresses ! As for the elder brother, I can pardon him : 
he only took Lady Castlemaine after his master had done with 
her, and after Lady Chesterfield had discarded him ; but, as 
for you, what the devil do you intend to do with a creature, 
on whom the king seems every day to dote with increasing 
fondness ? Is it because that drunken sot Eichmond has 
again come forward, and now declares himself one of her pro- 
fessed admirers ? You will soon see what he will make by it: 
I have not forgotten what the king said to me upon the subject. 
" Believe me, my dear friend, there is no playing tricks with 
our masters ; I mean, there is no ogling their mistresses. I 
myself wanted to play the agreeable in France with a little 
coquette, whom the king did not care about, and you know how 
dearly I paid for it. I confess she gives you fair play, but do 
not trust to her. All the sex feel an unspeakable satisfaction 
at having men in their train, whom they care not for, and to 
use them as their slaves of state, merely to swell their equip- 
age. Would it not be a great deal better to pass a week or ten 
days incognito at Peckham, with the philosopher Wetenhall's 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 343 

wife, than to have it inserted in the Dutch Gazette, — We 
hear from Bristol, that such a one is banished the court on 
account of Miss Stewart, and that he is going to make a cam- 
paign in Guinea^ on board the fleet that is fitting out for the 
expedition, under the command of Prince Eupert." 

Hamilton, who was the more convinced of the truth of this 
discourse, the more he considered it, after musing some time, 
appeared to wake from a dream, and addressing himself with 
an air of gratitude to the Chevalier de Grammont : " Of all 
the men in the world, my dear friend," said he, " you have the 
most agreeable wit, and at the same time the clearest judgment 
with respect to your friends: what you have told me has 
opened my eyes. I began to suffer myself to be seduced by 
the most ridiculous illusion imaginable, and to be hurried away 
rather by frivolous appearances than any real inclination : to 
you I owe the obligation of having preserved me from destruc- 
tion at the very brink of a precipice. This is not the only 
kindness you have done me, your favours have been innume- 
rable ; and, as a proof of my gratitude for this last, I will fol- 
low your advice, and go into retirement at my cousin Weten- 
hall's, to eradicate from my recollection every trace of those 
chimeras which lately possessed my brain ; but so far from 
going thither incognito, I will take you along with me, as soon 
as the court returns to London. My sister shall likewise be of 
the party ; for it is prudent to use all precautions with a man 
who, with a great deal of merit, on such occasions is not over 
scrupulous, if we may credit your philosopher." "Do not 
pay any attention to that pedant," replied the Chevalier de 
Grammont : " but tell me what put it into your head to form 

* This expedition was intended to have taken place in 1664. A 
full account of it, and how it came to be laid aside, may be seen in the 
Continuation of Clarendon^s Life^ p. 226. 



^'44 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

a design upon that inanimate statue, Miss Stewart ?" " How 
the devil should I know ?" said Hamilton : "you are acquainted 
with all her childish amusements. The old Lord Carlingford"^ 
was at her apartment one evening, showing her how to hold a 
lighted wax candle in her mouth, and the grand secret con- 
sisted in keeping the burning end there a long time without 
its being extinguished. I have, thank God, a pretty large 
mouth, and, in order to out-do her teacher, I took two candles 
into my mouth at the same time, and walked three times round 
the room without their going out. Every person present ad- 
judged me the prize of this illustrious experiment, and Kille- 
grew maintained that nothing but a lanthorn could stand in 
competition with me. Upon this she was like to die with 
laughing ; and thus was I admitted into the familiarity of her 
amusements. It is impossible to deny her being one of the 
most charming creatures that ever was : since the court has 
been in the country, I have had an hundred opportunities of 
seeing her, which I had not before. You know that the dis- 
habille of the bath is a great convenience for those ladies, who, 
strictly adhering to all the rules of decorum, are yet desirous 
to display all their charms and attractions. Miss Stewart is 
so fully acquainted with the advantages she possesses over aR 
other women, that it is hardly possible to praise any lady at 
court for a well-turned arm, and a fine leg, but she is ever 
ready to dispute the point by demonstration ; and I really be- 
lieve, that, with a little address, it would not be difficult to 
induce her to strip naked, without ever reflecting upon what 
she was doing. After all, a man must be very insensible to 
remain unconcerned and unmoved on such happy occasions ; 

* Sir Theobald Taaflfe, the second Viscount Taatfe, created Earl of 
Carlingford, in the county of Louth, by privy seal, l7th June, 1661, 
and by patent, 26th June, 1662. He died 31st December, 1677. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 34& 

and, besides, the good opinion we entertain of ourselves is apt 
to make us think a woman is smitten, as soon as she distin- 
guishes us by habitual familiarity, which most commonly sig- 
nifies nothing. This is the truth of the matter with respect to 
myself : my own presumption, her beauty, the brilliant station 
that sets it off, and a thousand kind things she had said to me, 
prevented me from making serious reflections ; but then, as 
some excuse for my folly, I must likewise tell you, that the 
facility I found in making her the tenderest declarations by 
commending her, and her telling me in confidence a thousand 
things which she ought not to have entrusted me with, might 
have deceived or infatuated any other man as well as myself. 

" I presented her with one of the prettiest horses in England. 
You know what peculiar grace and elegance distinguish her 
on horseback. The king, who, of all the diversions of the 
chase, likes none but hawking, because it is the most con- 
venient for the ladies, went out the other day to take this 
amusement, attended by all the beauties of his court. His 
majesty having galloped after a falcon, and the whole bright 
squadron after him, the rustling of Miss Stewart's petticoats 
frightened her horse, which was at full speed, endeavouring to 
come up with mine, that had been his companion ; so that I 
was the only witness of a disorder in her clothes, which dis- 
played a thousand new beauties to my view. I had the good 
fortune to make su^i gallant and flattering exclamations upon 
that charming disorder as to prevent her being concerned or 
out of countenance upon it : on the contrary, this subject of 
my admiration has been frequently since the subject of our 
conversation, and did not seem to displease her. 

" Old Lord Carlingford, and that mad fellow, Crofts* (for I 

* William, Baron of Crofts, groom of the stole, and gentleman of the 
bed-chamber to the Duke of York ; captain of a regiment of guards 



546 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GltAMMONT. 

must now make you my general confession), those insipid 
buffoons, were frequently telling her some diverting stories, 
which passed pretty well with the help of a few old thread- 
bare jests, or some apish tricks in the recital, which made her 
laugh heartily. As for myself, who know no stories, and do 
not possess the talent of improving them by telling, if I did 
know any, I was often greatly embarrassed when she desired 
me to tell her one : ' I do not know one, indeed,' said I, one 
day, when she was teazing me on the subject. ' Invent one, 
then,' said she. ' That would be still more difficult,' replied I; 
' but if you will give me leave, madam, I will relate to you a 
very extraordinary dream, which has, however, less appearance 
of truth in it than dreams generally have.' This excited her 
curiosity, which would brook no denial. I therefore began to 
tell her that the most beautiful creature in the world, whom I 
loved to distraction, paid me a visit in my sleep. I then drew 
her own portrait, with a rapturous description of all her beau- 
ties ; adding, that this goddess, who came to visit me with the 
most favourable intentions, did not counteract them by any 
unreasonable cruelty. This was not sufficient to satisfy Miss 
Stewart's curiosity : I was obliged to relate every particular 
circumstance of the kindness I experienced from this delicate 
phantom ; to which she was so very attentive, that she never 
once appeared surprised or disconcerted at the luscious tale. 
On the contrary, she made me repeat the description of the 
beauty, which I drew as near as possible after her own person, 
and after such charms as I imagined of beauties that were un- 
known to me. 

of the queen-mother, gentleman of the bed-chamber to the king, and am- 
bassador to Poland. He had been sent to France by the Duke of York, 
to congratulate Louis XIV. on the birth of the dauphin. See Biog. 
Brit, old Ed. vol. iv., p. 2738, and Continuation of Clarendon, p. 294. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 347 

" This is, in fact, the very thing that had almost deprived 
me of my senses : she knew very well that she herself was the 
person I was describing : we were alone, as you may imagine, 
when I told her this story ; and my eyes did their utmost to 
persuade her that it was herself whom I drew. I perceived 
that she was not in the least offended at knowing this ; nor 
was her modesty in the least alarmed at the relation of a fic- 
tion, which I might have concluded in a manner still less dis- 
creet, if I had thought proper. This patient audience made 
me plunge headlong into the ocean of flattering ideas that 
presented themselves to my imagination. I then no longer 
thought of the king, nor how passionately fond he was of her, 
nor of the dangers attendant upon such an engagement : in 
short, I know not what the devil I was thinking of; but I am 
very certain that, if you had not been thinking for me, I 
might have found my ruin in the midst of these distracted 
visions." 

Not long after, the court returned to London ; and from that 
time, some malevolent star having gained the ascendant, every 
thing went cross in the empire of Love : vexation, suspicions, 
or jealousies, first entered the field, to set all hearts at variance ; 
next, false reports, slander, and disputes, completed the ruin 
of all. 

The Duchess of Cleveland had been brought to bed while 
the court was at Bristol ; and never before had she recovered 
from her lying-in with such a profusion of charms. This made 
her believe that she was in a proper state to retrieve her ancient 
rights over the king's heart, if she had an opportunity of ap- 
pearing before him with this increased splendour. Her friends 
being of the same opinion, her equipage was prepared for this 
expedition ; but the very evening before the day she had fixed 



348 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

on to set out, slie saw young Churchill,"^ and was at once seized 
with a disease, which had more than once opposed her projects, 
and which she could never completely get the better of. 

* Afterwards the celebrated Duke of Marlboroiigli. He was bofn 
midsummer-day, 1650, and died June 16, 1722. Bishop Burnet takes 
notice of the discovery of this intrigue. " The Duchess of Cleveland 
finding that she had lost the king, abandoned herself to great dis- 
orders ; one of which, by the artifice of the Duke of Buckingham, was 
discovered by the king in person, the party concerned leaping out of 
the window." — History of his oivn Times, vol. i. p. 370. This was in 
1668. A very particular account of this intrigue is to be seen in the 
Atalantis oi Mrs. Manley, vol. i,, p. 30. The same writer, who had 
lived as companion to the Duchess of Cleveland, says, in the account 
of her own life, that she was an eye-witness when the duke, who had 
received thousands from the duchess, refused the common civility of 
lending her twenty guineas at basset.— ^Ae History of Eivella, 4th 
ed. 1725, J). 33. Lord Chesterfield's character of this noblemen is too 
remarkable to be omitted. 

" Of all the men that ever I knew in my life, (and I knew him ex- 
tremely well,) the late Duke of Marlborough possessed the graces in the 
highest degree, not to say engrossed them : and indeed he got the most 
by them ! for I will venture, (contrary to the custom of profound histo- 
rians, who always assign deep causes to great events,) to ascribe the 
better half of the Duke of Marlborough's greatness and riches to those 
graces. He was eminently illiterate, wrote bad English, and spelled it 
still worse. He had no share of what is commonly called parts ; that 
is, he had no brightness, nothing shining in his genius. He had, most 
undoubtedly, an excellent good plain understanding, with sound judg- 
ment. But these alone would probably have raised him but something 
higher than they found him, which was page to King James II.'s queen. 
There the graces protected and promoted him ; for while he was an 
ensign of the guards, the Duchess of Cleveland, then favourite mistress 
to King Charles II., struck by those very graces, gave him five thousand 
pounds ; with which he immediately bought an annuity for his life, of 
five hundred pounds a-year, of my grandfather, Halifax ; which was the 
foundation of his subsequent fortune. His figure was beautiful ; but 
his manner was irresistible by either man or woman. It was by this 
engaging, graceful manner, that he was enabled, during all his wars, to 
connect the various and jarring powers of the grand alliance, and to carry 




r UTTM .CTjia. ^i-jT'M.t.. dt iNi^^:7^i,is •oin :n)j'^ r^Ti 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 349 

A man who, from an ensign in the guards, was raised to 
such a fortune, must certainly possess an uncommon share of 
prudence, not to be intoxicated with his happiness. Churchill 
boasted in all places of the new favour he had received : the 
Duchess of Cleveland, who neither recommended to him cir- 
cumspection in his behaviour, nor in his conversation, did not 
seem to be in the least concerned at his indiscretion. Thus 
this intrigue was become a general topic in all companies, 
when the court arrived in London, and occasioned an immense 
number of speculations and reasonings: some said she had 
already presented him with Jermyn's pension, and Jacob Hall's 
salary, because the merits and qualifications of both were united 
in his person : others maintained that he had too indolent an 
air, and too delicate a shape, long to maintain himself in her 
favour ; but all agreed that a man who was the favourite of 
the king's mistress, and brother to the duke's favourite, was in 
a fair way of preferment, and could not fail to make his for- 
time. As a proof, the Duke of York soon after gave him a 
place in his household : this was naturally to be expected ; 

them on to the main object of the war, notwithstanding their private 
and separate views, jealousies, and wrongheadednesses. Whatever court 
he went to, (and he was often obHged to go himself to some restive and 
refractory ones,) he as constantly prevailed, and brought them into his 
measures. The pensionary Heinsius, a venerable old minister, grown 
grey in business, and who had governed the republic of the United 
Provinces for more than forty years, was absolutely governed by the 
Duke of Marlborough, as that republic feels to this day. He was always 
cool ; and nobody ever observed the least variation in his countenance. 
He could refuse more gracefully than other people could grant ; and 
those who went away from him the most dissatisfied, as to the substance 
of their business, were yet personally charmed with him, and, in some 
degree, comforted by his manner. With all his gracefulness, no man 
living was more conscious of his situation, or maintained his dignity 
better."— Chest Letters, letter 136. 



350 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

but the king, who did not think that Lady Cleveland's kind- 
ness to him was a sufficient recommendation to his favour, 
thought proper to forbid him the court. 

This good-natured king began now to be rather peevish : nor 
was it altogether without reason : he disturbed no person in 
their amours, and yet others had often the presumption to 
encroach upon his. Lord Dorset, first lord of the bed-cham- 
ber, had lately debauched from his service l^ell Gwyn, the 
actress.^ Lady Cleveland, whom he now no longer regarded, 

* On this passage, the first translator of this work, Mr. Beyer, has 
the following note : " The author of these memoirs is somewhat mistaken 
in this particular ; for Nell Gwyn was my Lord Dorset's mistress, before 
the king fell in love with her; and I was told by the late Mr. Dryden, 
that the king, having a mind to get her from his lordship, sent him upon 
a sleeveless errand to France. However, it is not improbable that Nell 
was afterwards kind to her first lover." Of the early part of Nell's 
life, little is known but what may be collected from the lampoons of 
the times ; in which it is said that she was born in a night-cellar, sold 
fish about the streets, rambled from tavern to tavern, entertaining the 
company after dinner and supper with songs (her voice being very 
agreeable); was next taken into the house of Madame Ross, a noted 
courtezan ; and was afterwards admitted into the theatre, where she 
became the mistress of both Hart and Lacey, the celebrated actors. 
Other accounts say she was born in a cellar in the Coal-yard in Drury 
lane ; and that she was first taken notice of when selling oranges in the 
play-house. She belonged to the king's company at Drury-lane, and, 
according to Downes, was received as an actress a few years after that 
house was opened, in 1663. The first notice I find of her is in the year 
1668, when she performed in Dryden's play of ' Secret Love ;' after which 
she may be traced every year until 1672, when I conjecture she quitted 
the stage. Her forte appears to have been comedy. In an epilogue to 
^ Tyrannic Love,' spoken by her, she says, 

I walk, because I die 

Out of my calling in a tragedy. 

And from the same authority it may be collected that her person was 
small, and she was negligent in her dress. Her son, the Duke of St. 
Albans, was born before she left the stage, viz., May 8, 1670. Bishop 



I 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 351 

continued to disgrace Mm by repeated infidelities with un- 
worthy rivals, and almost ruined him by the immense sums 



Burnet speaks of her in these terms: — " Gwyn, the indiscreetest and wild- 
est creature that ever was in a court, continued, to the end of the king's 
life, in great favour, and was maintained at a vast expense. The Duke 
of Buckingham told me, that when she was first brought to the king, 
she asked only 500 pounds a-year, and the king refused it. But when 
he told me this, about four years after, he said she had got of the king- 
above sixty thousand pounds. She acted all persons in so lively a man- 
ner, and was such a constant diversion to the king, that even a new 
mistress could not drive her away; but, after all, he never treated her 
with the decencies of a mistress." — History of his Own Times, vol. i., 
p. 369. The same author notices the king's attention to her on his 
death-bed. Gibber, who was dissatisfied with the bishop's account of 
Nell, says, — " if we consider her in all the disadvantages of her rank 
and education, she does not appear to have had any criminal errors, 
more remarkable than her sex's frailty, to answer for ; and if the same 
author, in his latter end of that prince's life, seems to reproach his 
memory with too kind a concern for her support, we may allow it be- 
comes a bishop to have had no eyes or taste for the frivolous charms or 
playful badinage of a king's mistress. Yet, if the common fame of her 
may be believed, which, in my memory, was not doubted, she had less 
to be laid to her charge than any other of those ladies who were in the 
same state of preferment. She never meddled in matters of serious 
moment, or was the tool of working politicians ; never broke into those 
amorous infidelities which others, in that grave author, are accused of ; 
but was as visibly distinguished by her particular personal inclination 
to the king, as her rivals were by their titles and grandeur." — Gibber's 
Apology, 8vo, p. 450. One of Madame Sevigne's letters exhibits no bad 
portrait of Mrs. Gwyn. — " Mademoiselle de K , (Kerouaille, after- 
wards Duchess of Portsmouth) has not been disappointed in anything 
she proposed. She desired to be mistress to the king, and she is so : 
he lodges with her almost every night, in the face of all the court : she 
has had a son, who has been acknowledged, and presented with two 
duchies : she amasses treasure, and makes herself feared and repected by 
as many as she can. But she did not foresee that she should find a young 
actress in her way, whom the king dotes on ; and she has it not in her 
power to withdraw him from her. He divides his care, his time, and 



352 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

she lavished on her gallants ; but that which most sensibly- 
affected him, was the late coldness and threats of Miss Stewart. 
He long since had offered her all the settlements and all the 



his health, between these two. The actress is as haughty as Mademoi- 
selle : she insults her, she makes grimaces at her, she attacks her,- she 
frequently steals the king from her, and boasts whenever he gives her 
the preference. She is young, indiscreet, confident, wild, and of an 
agreeable humour : she sings, she dances, she acts her part with a good 
grace. She has a son by the king, and hopes to have him acknowledged. 
As to Mademoiselle, she reasons thus : This duchess, says she, pretends 
to be a person of quality : she says she is related to the best families in 
France : whenever any person of distinction dies, she puts herself in 
mourning. — If she be a lady of such quality, why does she demean her- 
self to be a courtezan ? She ought to die with shame. As for me, it is 
my profession : I do not pretend to anything better. He has a son^by 
me : I pretend that he ought to acknowledge him ; and I am well 
assured he will ; for he loves me as well as Mademoiselle. This crea- 
ture gets the upper hand, and discountenances and embarrasses the 
duchess extremely." — Letter 92. Mr. Pennant says, — " she resided at 
her house, in what was then called Pall- Mall. It is the first good one 
on the left hand of St. James's-square, as we enter from Pali-Mall. The 
back-room on the ground floor was (within memory) entirely of looking 
glass, as was said to have been the ceiling. Over the chimney was her 
picture ; and that of her sister was in a third room." — London, p. 101. 
At this house she died, in the year 1691, and was pompously interred 
in the parish church of St. Martin's in the fields ; Dr. Tennison, then 
vicar, and afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, preaching her funeral 
sermon. This sermon, we learn, was shortly afterwards brought for- 
wards at court by Lord Jersey, to impede the doctor's preferment : but 
Queen Mary, having heard the objection, answered — "What then f ' in 
a sort of discomposure to which she was but little subject ; " I have 
heard as much : this is a sign that that poor unfortunate woman died 
penitent ; for, if I can read a man's heart through his looks, had not she 
made a pions and Christian end, the doctor could never have been in- 
duced to speak well of her." — Life of Dr. Thomas Tennison, p. 20. 
Cibber also says, he had been unquestionably informed that our fair 
offender's repentance appeared in all the contrite symptoms of a Chris- 
tian sincerity. — Gibber's Apology, p. 451. 



%.■ 




IVITS.5S 31) ..^ly^II .^ . 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 353 

titles she could desire, until lie had an opportunity more 
effectually to provide for her, which she had pretended only 
to decline, for fear of the scandal they might occasion, on her 
heing raised to a rank which would attract the public notice ; 
but since the return of the court, she had given herself other 
airs : sometimes she was for retiring from court, to appease 
the continual uneasiness her presence gave the queen: at 
other times it was to avoid temptations, by which she wished 
to insinuate that her innocence was still preserved : in short, 
the king's heart was continually distracted by alarms, or op- 
pressed by humour and caprice. 

As he could not for his life imagine what Miss Stewart 
wished him to do, or what she would be at, he thought upon 
reforming his establishment of mistresses, to try whether 
jealousy was not the real occasion of her uneasiness. It was for 
this reason that, after having solemnly declared he would have 
nothing more to say to the Duchess of Cleveland, since her 
intrigue with Churchill, he discarded, without any exception, 
all the other mistresses which he had in various parts of the 
town. The Nell Gwyns, the Misses Davis,^ and the joyous 
train of singers and dancers in liis majesty's theatre, were all 

* Mrs. Mary Davis was an actress belonging to the duke's theatre. 
She was, according to Downes, one of the four female performers who 
boarded in Sir William Davenant's own house, and was on the stage as 
early as 1664, her name being to be seen in The Stepmother, acted in that 
year. She performed the character of Celia in The Rivals, altered by 
Davenant from the Two Nolle Kinsmen of Fletcher and Shakespeare, 
in 1668 ; and, in singing several wild and mad songs, so charmed his 
majesty, that she was from that time received into his favour, and had 
by him a daughter, Mary Tudor, born October, 1673 ; married in 
August, 1687, to Francis Eatcliff, Earl of Derwentwater. Burnet says, 
Miss Davis did not keep her hold on the king long ; which may be 
doubted, as her daughter was born four years after she was first noticed 
by his majesty. 

23 



354 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

dismissed. All these sacrifices were ineffectual : Miss Stewart 
continued to torment, and almost to drive the king to dis- 
traction ; but his majesty soon after found out the real cause 
of this coldness. 

Tliis discovery was owing to the officious Duchess of Cleve- 
land, who, ever since her disgrace, had railed most bitterly 
against Miss Stewart as the cause of it, and against the king's 
weakness, who, for an inanimate idiot, had treated her with so 
much indignity. As some of her grace's creatures were stiU. 
in the king's confidence, by their means she was informed of 
the king's uneasiness, and that Miss Stewart's behaviour was 
the occasion of it : and as soon as she had found the opportu- 
nity she had so long wished for, she went directly into the 
king's cabinet, through the apartment of one of his pages called 
Chiffinch, This way was not new to lier. 

The king was just returned from visiting Miss Stewart, in a 
Aery ill humour : the presence of the Duchess of Cleveland 
surprised him, and did not in the least diminish it : she, per- 
cei^dng this, accosted him in an ironical tone, and with a smile 
of indignation : " I hope," said she, " I may be allowed to pay 
you my homage, although the angelic Stewart has forbid you 
to see me at my own house. I will not make use of re- 
proaches and expostulations, which would disgrace myself: still 
less will I endeavour to excuse frailties which nothing can 
justify, since your constancy for me deprives me of all defence, 
considering I am the only person you have honoured with 
your tenderness, who has made herself unworthy of it by ill 
conduct. I come now, therefore, with no other intent than to 
■comfort and to condole with you upon the affiiction and grief 
into which the coldness, or new-fashioned chastity of the in- 
human Stewart have reduced your majesty." These words 
were attended by a fit of laughter, as unnatural and strained 




JE. J'crvyen- S. 



1') 1^ (-' ][-! ;F. .?! .>? -OT T" TDIBIT S :>J07-^'"TiT 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 355 

as it was insulting and immoderate, whicli completed the 
long's impatience : he had, indeed, expected that some bitter 
jest would follow this preamble ; but he (Jid not suppose she 
would have given herself such blustering airs, considering the 
terms they were then upon ; and, as he was preparing to an- 
swer her : " be not offended," said she, " that I take the liberty 
of laughing at the gross manner in which you are imposed 
upon : I cannot bear to see that such particular affectation 
should make you the jest of your own court, and that you 
should be ridiculed with such impunity. I know that the 
affected Stuart has sent you away, under pretence of some in- 
disposition, or perhaps some scruple of conscience ; and I come 
to acquaint you that the Duke of Kichmond will soon be with 
her, if he is not there already. I do not desire you to believe 
what I say, since it might be suggested either through resent- 
ment or envy : only follow me to her apartment, either that, 
no longer trusting calumny and malice, you may honour her 
with a just preference, if I accuse her falsely ; or, if my infor- 
mation be true, you may no longer be the dupe of a pretended 
prude, who makes you act so unbecoming and ridiculous a 
part." 

As she ended this speech, she took him by the hand, while 
he was yet undecided, and pulled him away towards her 
rival's apartments. Chifiinch^ being in her interest. Miss 

* The name of tliis person occurs very often in the secret history of 
this reign. Wood, in enumerating the king's supper companions, 
says, they meet " either in the lodgings of Lodovisa, Duchess of Ports- 
mouth, or in those of Cheffing (Chiffinch), near the back stairs, or 

in the apartment of Eleanor Quin (Gwyn), or in that of Baptist May ; 

but he losing his credit, Chefhng had the greatest trust among 

them." Atkence Oxon., vol. ii., 1038. So great was the confidence re- 
posed in him, that he was the receiver of the secret pensions paid by the 
court of France to the King of England.— See the Luke of Leedii Let- 
ters, 1710, pp. 9, 17, 33. 

23—2 



356 MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

Stewart could have no warning of the visit ; and Babiani, who 
owed all to the Duchess of Cleveland, and who served her 
admirably well upon this occasion, came and told her that the 
Duke of Eichmond had just gone into Miss Stewart's chamber. 
It was in the middle of a little gallery, which, through a 
private door, led from the king's apartments to those of his 
mistresses. The Duchess of Cleveland wished him good night, 
as he entered her rival's chamber, and retired, in order to wait 
the success of the adventure, of which Babiani, who attended 
the king, was charged to come and give her an account. 

It was near midnight : the king, in his way, met his mis- 
tress's chamber-maids, who respectfully opposed his entrance, 
and in a very low voice, whispered his majesty that Miss 
Stewart had been very ill since he left her : but that, being 
gone to bed, she was, God be thanked, in a very fine sleep. 
" That I must see," said the king, pushing her back, who had 
posted herself in his way. He found Miss Stewart in bed,, 
indeed, but far from being asleep : the Duke of Eichmond was 
seated at her pillow, and in all probability was less inclined 
to sleep than herseK. The perplexity of the one party, and 
the rage of the other, were such as may easily be imagined 
upon such a surprise. The king, who, of all men, was one of 
the most mild and gentle, testified his resentment to the Duke 
of Eichmond in such terms as he had never before used. The 
duke was speechless, and almost petrified : he saw his master 



Chiffinch's more important duties are intimated in the beginning of a 
satirical poem of the time, entitled, " Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's 
Ghost." 

It happen'd, in the twilight of the day, 
As England's monarch in his closet lay, 
And Chiffinch stepped to fetch the female prey, 
The bloody shape of Godfrey did appear, &c. 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 357 

and his king justly irritated. The first transports which rage 
inspires on such occasions are dangerous. Miss Stewart's 
window was very convenient for a sudden revenge, the 
Thames flowing close beneath it : he cast his eyes upon 
it ; and, seeing those of the king more incensed and fired with 
indignation than he thought his nature capable of, he made a 
profound bow, and retired, without replying a single word to 
the vast torrent of threats and menaces that were poured 
upon him. 

Miss Stewart, having a little recovered from her first sur- 
prise,^ instead of justifying herself, began to talk in the most 
extravagant manner, and said everything that was most capable 
to inflame the king's passion and resentment ; that, if she were 
not allowed to receive visits from a man of the Duke of Eich- 
mond's rank, who came with honourable intentions, she was a 
slave in a free country ; that she knew of no engagement that 
could prevent her from disposing of her hand as she thought 
proper ; but, however, if this was not permitted her in his 
dominions, she did not believe that there was any power on 
earth that could hinder her from going over to France, and 
throwing herself into a convent, to enjoy there that tranquil- 
lity which was denied her in his court.. The king, sometimes 
furious with anger, sometimes relenting at her tears, and some- 
times terrified at her menaces, was so greatly agitated, that he 
knew not how to answer, either the nicety of a creature who 
wanted to act the part of Lucretia under his own eye, or the 
assurance with which she had the effrontery to reproach him. 
In this suspense, love had almost entirely vanquished all his 
resentments, and had nearly induced him to throw himself 
upon his knees, and entreat pardon for the injury he had done 

* See Bishop Burnet's account of Miss Stewart's marriage, in his 
History of His own Times, vol. i., p. 353. 



358 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

her, when she desired him to retire, and leave her in repose» 
at least for the remainder of that night, without offending 
those who had either accompanied him, or conducted him to 
her apartments, by a longer visit. This impertinent request 
provoked and irritated him to the highest degree : he went 
out abruptly, vowing never to see her more, and passed the 
most restless and uneasy night he had ever experienced since 
his restoration. 

The next day the Duke of Eichmond received orders to quit 
the court, and never more to appear before the king ; but it 
seems he had not waited for those orders, having set out early 
that morning for his country seat. 

Miss Stewart, in order to obviate all injurious constructions 
that might be put upon the adventure of the preceding night, 
went and threw herself at the queen's feet ; where, acting the 
new part of an innocent Magdalen, she entreated her majesty's 
forgiveness for all the sorrow and uneasiness she might have 
already occasioned her. She told her majesty that a constant 
and sincere repentance had induced her to contrive all possible 
means for retiring from court : that this reason had inclined 
her to receive the Duke of Eichmond's addresses, who had 
courted her a long time ; but since this courtship had caused 
his disgrace, and had likewise raised a vast noise and dis- 
turbance, which perhaps might be turned to the prejudice of 
her reputation, she conjured her majesty to take her under 
her protection, and endeavour to obtain the king's permission 
for her to retire into a convent, to remove at once all those 
vexations and troubles her presence had innocently occasioned 
at court. All this was accompanied with a proper deluge of 
tears. 

It is a very agreeable spectacle to see a rival prostrate at 
our feet, entreating pardon, and at the same time justifying 



MEMOIES OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 359 

her conduct. The queen's heart not only relented, but she 
mingled her own tears with those of Miss Stewart. After 
having raised her up, and most tenderly embraced her, she 
promised her all manner of favour and protection, either in 
her marriage, or in any other course she thought fit to pursue, 
and parted from her with the firm resolution to exert all her 
interest in her support : but, being a person of great judgment, 
the reflections which she afterwards made, induced her to 
change her opinion. 

She knew that the king's disposition was not capable of an 
obstinate constancy. She therefore judged that absence 
would cure him, or that a new engagement would by degrees 
entirely efface the remembrance of Miss Stewart ; and that, 
since she could not avoid having a rival, it was more desirable 
she should be one who had given such eminent proofs of her 
prudence and virtue. Besides, she flattered herself that the 
king would ever think himself eternally obliged to her, for 
having opposed the retreat and marriage of a girl, whom at 
that time he loved to distraction. This fine reasoning deter- 
mined her conduct. All her industry was employed in per- 
suading Miss Stewart to abandon her schemes ; and what is 
most extraordinary in this adventure, is, that, after having 
prevailed upon her to think no more either of the Duke of 
Eichmond, or of a nunnery, she charged herself with the 
office of reconciling these two lovers. 

Indeed it would have been a thousand pities if her nego- 
ciation had miscarried : but she did not suffer this misfortune ; 
for never were the king's addresses so eager and passionate as 
after this peace, nor ever better received by the fair Stewart. 

His majesty did not long enjoy the sweets of a reconcilia- 
tion, which brought him into the best good humour possible, 
as we shall see. All Europe was in a profound peace, since 



o60 MEMOIES OF COUNT GEAMMONT. 

tlie treaty of tlie Pyrenees : Spain flattered herself she should 
be able to recruit, by means of the new alliance she had con- 
tracted with the most formidable of her neighbours ; but 
despaired of being able to support the shattered remains of a 
declining monarchy, when she considered the age and infirmi- 
ties of her prince, or the j^weakness of his successor : France, 
on the contrary, governed by a king indefatigable in business, 
young, vigilant, and ambitious of glory, wanted nothing but 
inclination to aggrandize herself. 

It was about this time, that the king of France, not 
willing to disturb the tranquillity of Europe, was persuaded 
to alarm the coasts of Africa, by an attempt, which, if it had 
even been crowned with success, would have produced little 
good ; but the king's fortune, ever faithful to his glory, has 
since made it appear, by the miscarriage of the expedition of 
Gigeri,'^ that such projects only as were planned by himself 
were worthy of his attention. 

A short time after, the king of England, having resolved 
also to explore the African coasts, fitted out a squadron for 
an expedition to Guinea, which was to be commanded by 
Prince Eupert. Those who, from their own experience, had 
some knowledge of the country, related strange and wonder- 
ful stories of the dangers attendant upon this expedition: 
that they would have to fight not only the inhabitants of 

* Gigeri is about forty leagues from Algiers. Till the year 1664 the 
Prench had a factory there ; but then attempting to build a fort on the 
sea-coast, to be a check upon the Arabs, they came down from the 
mountains, beat the French out of Gigeri, and demolished their fort. 
Sir Richard Fanshaw, in a letter to the deputy governor of Tangier, 
dated 2nd December, 1664, N.S., says, *' We have certain intelligence 
that the French have lost Gigheria^ with all they had there, and their 
fleet come back, with the loss of one considerable ship upon the rocks 
near Marseilles." — Fansliaiu's Letters, vol. i. p. 347. 



MEMOIKS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 361 

Guinea, a hellisli people, whose arrows were poisoned, and 
who never gave their prisoners better quarter than to devour 
them, but that they must likewise endure heats that were in- 
supportable, and rains that were intolerable, every drop of 
which was changed into a serpent : that, if they penetrated 
farther into the country, they would be assaulted by monsters 
a thousand times more hideous and destructive than all the 
beasts mentioned in the Eevelations. 

But all these reports were vain and ineffectual : for so far 
from striking terror into those who were appointed to go upon 
this expedition, it rather acted as an incentive to glory, upon 
those who had no manner of business in it. Jermyn appeared 
among the foremost of those; and, without reflecting that 
the pretence of his indisposition had delayed the conclusion 
of his marriage with Miss Jennings, he asked the duke's per- 
mission, and the king's consent to serve in it as a volunteer. 

Some time before this, the infatuation which had imposed 
upon the fair Jennings in his favour had begun to subside. 
All that now inclined her to this match were the advantages 
of a settlement. The careless indolence of a lover, who 
faintly paid his addresses to her, as it were from custom or 
habit, disgusted her ; and the resolution he had taken, mth- 
out consulting her, appeared so ridiculous in him, and sa 
injurious to herself, that, from that moment, she resolved to 
think no more of him. Her eyes being opened by degrees, 
she saw the fallacy of the splendour, which had at first 
deceived her; and the renowned Jermyn was received 
according to his real merit when he came to acquaint her 
with his heroical project. There appeared so much indiffer- 
ence and ease in the raillery with which she complimented 
him upon his voyage, that he was entirely disconcerted, and 
so much the more so, as he had prepared all the arguments 



362 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

he thought capable of consoling her, upon announcing to her 
tlie fatal news of his departure. She told him, " that no- 
thing could be more glorious for him, who had triumphed 
over the liberty of so many persons in Europe, than to go 
and extend his conquests in other parts of the w^orld ; and 
that she advised him to brinoj home with him all the female 
-captives he might make in Africa, in order to replace those 
beauties whom his absence would bring to the grave." 

Jermyn was highly displeased that she should be capable 
of raillery in the condition he supposed her reduced to ; but 
he soon perceived she was in earnest : she told him, that she 
considered this farewell visit as his last, and desired him not 
to think of making her any more before his departure. 

Thus far everything went well on her side : Jermyn was 
not only confounded at having received his discharge in so 
cavalier a manner ; but this very demonstration of her in- 
difference had revived, and even redoubled, all the love and 
affection he had formerly felt for her. Thus she had both 
tlie pleasure of despising him, and of seeing him more en- 
tangled in the chains of love than he had ever been before. 
This was not sufficient : she wished still farther, and very 
xmadvisedly, to strain her resentment. 

Ovid's Epistles,* translated into English verse by the gi'eat- 
ost wits at court, having lately been published, she wrote a 
letter from a shepherdess in despair, addressed to the perfidious 
Jermyn. She took the epistle of Ariadne to Theseus for her 
model. The beginning of this letter contained, word for word, 
the complaints and reproaches of that injured fair to the cruel 
man by whom she had been abandoned. All this was properly 
adapted to the present times and circumstances. It was her 

* This is the translation of Ovid's Epistles published by Mr. Dryden. 
The second edition of it was printed in 1681. 




^^ ^i: IK.1I S T ]S M ^I'l iR D: IL" 'l \^. :1a ih 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GKAMMONT. 363 

design to have closed this piece with a description of the toils, 
perils, and monsters, that awaited him in Guinea, for which he 
quitted a tender mistress, who was plunged into the abyss of 
misery, and was overwhelmed with grief and despair ; but not 
having had time to finish it, nor to get that which she had 
written transcribed, in order to send it to him under a feigned 
name, she inconsiderately put this fragment, written in her 
own hand, into her pocket, and, still more giddily, dropped it 
in the middle of the court. Those who took it up, knowing 
her writing, made several copies of it, which were circulated 
all over the town ; but her former conduct had so well es- 
tablished the reputation of her virtue, that no person enter- 
tained the smallest doubt but the circumstances were exactly 
as we have related them. Some time after, the Guinea expe- 
dition was laid aside for reasons that are universally known, 
and Miss Jenning's subsequent proceedings fully justified her 
letter ; for, notwithstanding all the efforts and attentions Jer- 
myn practised to regain her affections, she would never more 
hear of him. 

But he was not the only man who experienced the whimsi- 
cal fatality, that seemed to delight in disuniting hearts, in order 
to engage them soon after to different objects. One would 
have imagined that the God of Love, actuated by some new 
caprice, had placed his empire under the dominion of Hymen, 
iind had, at the same time, blind-folded that God, in order to 
€ross-match most of the lovers whom we have been speaking of» 

The fair Stewart married the Duke of Kichmond ; the invin- 
cible Jermyn, a silly country girl f Lord Eochester, a melan- 
choly heiress ;f the sprightly Temple, the serious Lyttleton ; 

* Miss Gibbs, daughter of a gentleman in the county of Cambridge, 
t Elizabeth, daughter of John Mallet, of Enmere, in the county of 
Somerset. 



364 MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 

Talbot, witliout knowing wliy or wherefore, took to wife the 
languishing Boynton ;* George Hamilton, under more favour- 
able auspices, married the lovely Jennings ; and the Chevalier 
de Grammont, as the reward of a constancy he had never be- 
fore known, and which he never afterwards practised, found 
Hymen and Love united in his favour, and was at last blessed 
with the possession of Miss Hamilton.-|- 

* After the deaths of Miss Boynton and of George Hamilton, Talbot 
married Miss Jennings, and became aftei'warda Duke of Tyrconnel. 

t " The famous Count Grammont was thought to be the original of 
The Forced Marriage. This nobleman, during his stay at the court of 
England, had made love to Miss Hamilton, but was coming away for 
France without bringing matters to a proper conclusion. The young 
lady's brothel's pursued him, and came up with him near Dover, in order 
to exchange some pistol-sliot with him : They called out, ' Count Gram- 
mont, have you forgot nothing at London f ' Excuse me,' answered the 
Count, guessing their errand, ' I forgot to marry your sister ; so lead 
on, and let us finish that affair.' By the pleasantry of the answer, this 
was the same Grammont who commanded at the siege of a place, the 
governor of which capitulated after a short defence, and obtained an 
easy capitulation. The governor then said to Monsieur Grammont, 
* I'll tell you a secret — that the reason of my capitulation was, because 
I was in want of powder.' Monsieur replied, ' And secret for secret — 
the reason of my granting you such an easy capitulation was, because I 
was in want of ball." — Biog. Gallica, vol. i., p. 202. 

Count Grammont and his lady left England in 1669. King Charles 
in a letter to his sister, the Duchess of Orleans, dated 24th October, in 
that year, says, " I writt to you yesterday, by the Compte de Gram- 
mont, but I beleeve this letter will come sooner to your handes ; for he 
goes by the way of Diep, with his wife and family : and now that I 
have named her, I cannot chuse but againe desire you to be kinde to 
her ; for, besides the merrit her family has on both sides, she is as 
good a creature as ever lived. I beleeve she will passe for a handsome 
woman in France, though she has not yett, since her lying-inn, re- 
covered that good shape she had before, and I am affraide never will." 
— Dalrymple's Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 26. 

" The Count de Grammont fell dangerously ill in the year 1696 ; of 
which the king (Louis XIV.) being informed, and knowing, besides^ 



MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT. 365 

that he was inclined to libertinism, he was pleased to send the Marquis 
of Dangeau to see how he did, and to advise him to think of God. 
Hereupon Count de Grammont, turning towards his wife, who had ever 
been a very devout lady, told her,Countess, if you don't look to it, Dangeau 
will juggle you out of my conversion. Madame de TEnclos having after- 
wards written to M. de St. Evremond that Count de Grammont was re- 
covered, and turned devout,— I have learned, answered he to her, with 
a greal deal of pleasure, that Count de Grammont has recovered his 
former health, and acquired a new devotion. Hitherto I have been con- 
tented with being a plain honest man ; but I must do something more ; 
and I only wait for your example to become a devotee. You live in a 
country where people have wonderful advantages of saving their souls : 
there vice is almost as opposite to the mode as to virtue; sinning passes for 
ill-breeding, and shocks decency and good manners, as much as religion, 
Formerly it was enough to be wicked ; now one must be a scoundrel 
withal, to be damned in France. They who have not regard enough for 
another life, are led to salvation by the consideration and duties of this." 
— " But there is enough upon a subject in which the conversion of the 
Count de Grammont has engaged me : I believe it to be sincere and 
honest. It well becomes a man who is not young, to forget he has been 
so." — Life of St. Evremond, hy Des Marzeaux, p. 136 ; and St. Evre- 
mond/ s Woi^lcs, vol. ii. p. 431. 

It appears that a report had been spread that our hero was dead. 
St. Evremond, in a letter to De TEnclos, says, " they talk here as if the 
Count de Grammont was dead, which touches me with a very sensible 
grief.'' — St. Evremond's Works, vol. iii., p. 39 . And the same lady, in 
her answer, says, " Madame de Coulanges has undertaken to make your 
compliments to the Count de Grammont, by the Countess de Gram- 
mont. He is so young, that I think him as light as when he hated sick 
people, and loved them after they had recovered their health." — Ibid. 
p. 59. 

At length Count de Grammont, after a long life, died, the 10th 
January, 1707, at the age of 86 years. 

See a letter from St. Evremond to Count de Grammont on the death 
of his brother, Count de Toulongeon. — St. Evremond''s Works, vol. ii., p. 
-327. 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



Anne of Austria, 60 
Arlington, Earl of, 150, 151 

, Countess of, 152 

Arran, Earl of, 95, 154, 173, 

174, 186, 189 
Arscot, Due d', 66 

Bagot, Miss, 238, 242, 244 
Bardou, Miss, 229, 235 
Barker, Mrs., 254 
Barry, Mrs., 271 
Batteville, Baron do, 27, 28 
Bellenden, Miss, 229, 235 
Blague, Miss, 127, 129, 130, 132, 

134, 135, 139, 239 
Boynton, Miss, 238, 273, 312, 364 
Brice, Don Gregorio, 161 
Brinon, 15, 16, 17, 19 
Brisacier, 128, 138, 139, 239 
Brissac, Due de, 217, 218, 219 
Bristol, Earl of, 182 
Brook, Misses, 102, 183, 184 
Brounker, 287, 289, 290 
Buckingham, Duchess of, 335, 

336 
Buckingham, Duke of, 93, 145, 

146, 333, 334, 335 
Bussi, 3, 183 

Cameran, Count, 22, 23, 24, 25 

Carlingford, Lord, 344, 345 

Carnegy. _ See Southesk 

Castlemaine, Countess of, 100, 
117, 150, 154, 158, 166, 169, 
170, 183, 188, 275, 279, 329, 331, 
337, 342, 347, 350, 354, 356 

Charles II., 83, 84, 85, 86, 89 



Chesterfield, Countess of, 101,. 

152, 168, 171, 182, 185, 186, 

187, 191, 194, 196, 203, 205, 208, 

210, 215, 307 
, Earl of, 168, 171, 185, 

187, 191, 196, 197, 199, 201, 207, 

213 214 
Chiffilich, 354, 355 
Churchill, Miss, 306, 309, 314, 315 
■ , Duke of Marlborough,. 

348, 349 
Clarendon, Earl of. 90, 91 
Cleveland. See Castlemaine 
Comminge, Mons de, 156 
Conde, Prince de, 58, 59, 60, 62, 

63,67,68,75,78, 161, 162, 164 
Cornwallis, Lord, 227 
Crofts, 190, 345 
Cromwell, Oliver, 82 

Davis, Mrs., 353 
Denham, Sir John, 184, 207 

, Lady, 185, 195, 204,: 

206, 207 
Dorset, Duke of, 201, 203, 350 
Dongon, 240 
Duncan, 134 

Etheridge, Sir George, 202, 203 

Falmouth, Earl of, 93, 144, 155,, 

156, 173, 175, 222, 244 
Feraulas, 319 
Feversham, Earl of, 240 
Fielding, Miss, 238 
Fiesque, Countess, 111 
Flamarens, 220, 221, 229 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



367 



Fox, Sir Stephen, 227, 228 
Francisco, 186 

Gaboury, 74 

Garde, Miss de la, 229, 230, 235 

Gibbs, Miss, 363 

Gloucester, Duke of, 87 

Grammont, Mar6chal de, 161, 324 

Guise, Duke of, 136, 158, 178 

Gwyn, Nell, 277, 350, 351, 353 

Hall, Jacob, 118, 276 

Hamilton, Anthony. See Preface 

, George, 96, 152, 168, 

169, 170, 185, 188, 189, 190, 191, 
193, 194, 196, 197, 198, 208, 216, 
293, 294, 295, 339, 340, 341, 342, 
343, 344, 364 

James, 96, 339 



Hamilton, Miss, 122, 124, 126, 128, 
130, 135, 137, 142, 145, 163, 166, 
167, 205, 206, 221, 228, 272, 290, 
294, 296, 298, 302, 304, 316, 318, 
327, 338, 364 

Henrietta Maria, QueenDowager, 
98, 104, 105 

Hobart, Miss, 238, 242, 243, 244, 
250, 251, 252, 258, 259, 260, 261, 
262, 264, 267, 307, 308, 309 

Hopital, Mademoiselle de 1', 327 

Howard, Henry, 143 

, Thomas, 119 

Humiferes, Marechal de, 65, 67 

Hughes, Mrs., 301 

Hyde, Anne, Duchess of York, 90, 
104,158,172,176,306 

Hyde, Mrs., 117 

Jennings, Miss, 244, 247, 273, 282, 

286, 364 
Jermyn, 99, 119, 172, 175,279, 363 
Jones, Earl of Kanelagh, 113 

Katharine, Queen Infanta of Por- 
tugal, 88, 102, 103, 153, 335, 337, 
338 

Killegrew, 173, 231, 234, 264, 265, 
268, 270, 331, 334 

Kirk, Miss. See Warminster 



La Motte, 66 
Lely, Sir Peter, 205 
Leopold, Archduke, 62 
Levingston, Miss, 238 
L'Orme, Madame de, 217 
Louis XIIL, 5 

XIV., 78 

Lussan, Mons. de, 67, 68 
Lyttleton, Sir Charles, 246, 256, 
363 

Madame Eoyale, 30 

Marshall, Mrs., 254 

Matta, 31, 49, 54 

Mazarin, Cardinal, 60, 75 

, Peter, 75 

Melo, Francisco de, 103 

Meneville, Madame, 80 

Middlesex. See Dorset 

Middleton, 101, 113, 114, 121,122, 
124, 126, 141, 142, 166 

Monmouth, Duke of, 328, 330 

. , Duchess of, 330 j 

Montagu, Edward, 313 

, Kalph, 121, 313 

Montmorency, 69 

Motte, Houdancourt, Mademoi- 
selle de, 80 

Muskerry, Lord, 128, 137, 298, 302 

, Lady, 126, 128, 132, 302, 

303, 304 

Newcastle, Duchess of, 137 

Olonne, Mademoiselle, 111 
Orange, Princess of, 88, 100 
Orleans, Madame, Duchess of, 325 
Ormond, Duke of, 91, 225 
Ossory, Earl of, 96 
Oxford, Earl of, 254, 255 

Pan^tra, Donna, 103 
Poussatin, 160, 163, 164 
Pralin, Du Plessis, 6, 74 
Price, Miss, 134, 135, 139, 238, 

239, 240, 241, 242, 258, 265, 269, 

275, 279, 283, 285, 288 
Progers, Edward, 237 



368 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



Sydney, Robert, 97, 309 
Sylva, Don Pedro, 103 



Eawlings, Giles, 121 
Richelieu, Cardinal, 5 
Richmond, Duke of, 230, 231, 355, 

356, 358, 359, 363 Taaffe, Lord, 229, 231, 233 

-, Duchess of. iS'ee Stewart Talbot, Duke of Tyrconnel, 173, 



Robarts, Lady, 180, 181, 182 

, Lord, 180, 181 

Rochester, Earl of, 201, 202, 239, 

243, 249, 256, 267, 280, 363 
Rupert, Prince, 131, 300, 301 
Russell, John, 141, 165, 166 
, William, 141 

tSt. Albans, Earl of, 93, 98 

St. Chamont, Mme. de, 315, 325 

&t. Evremond, 3, 107, 109, 112, 

142, 145, 199,365 
St. Germain, Madame de, 32, 34, 

41, 42, 45 
Saucourt, 323 

Sedley, Sir Charles, 201, 203 
Senantes, Madame de, 32, 42 

■ , Marquis of, 44 

Shrewsbury, Countess of, 101, 115, 

118,119, 121,204,224,334 
Silvius, Sir Gabriel, 236 
Southesk, Lady, 177, 222 
Stewart, Miss, 115, 145, 190, 249, 

331, 354, 363 
Suze, Countess de la, 220 



174, 178, 222, 223, 225, 272, 364 
Talbot, Peter, 224 

, Thomas, 224 

Tambonneau, 220, 221, 222 
Tanes, Count de, 30 
Taurauvedez, 103 
Temple, Miss, 244, 249, 257, 363 
Termes, 126, 131, 135, 319 
Thanet, Lord, 131 
Thomas, Prince, 6 
Toulongeon, 143, 144, 365 
Turenne, Marechal de, 27, 63, 65 

Vendome, Caesar de, 13 
Villeroy, 74 

Warminster, Miss, 114, 122, 228, 

235 
Wells, Miss, 236, 237, 238, 246 
Wetenhall, Mrs., 290, 291, 292, 

293, 294, 296, 302, 303, 304, 339 

YarboFOoigh, Sir Thomas, 127, 239 

York, James, Duke of, 65, 89, 140, 

171, 177, 181, 185, 205, 246, 304. 



THE END. 



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to justify us in recommending it warmly to their notice. In the magnificent collection of books which the 
Prince of Wales has selected for presents to the princes, chiefs, and other distinguished natives of India, 
are fifty copies of this work. His Royal Highness's tour will closely follow M. Rousselet's route, and, no 
doubt, will be followed in his volume by many in anticipation, and often again in illustration, of the Royal 
progress." 

From the Graphic, Octoher 16, 1875. 

"The gorgeous quarto, entitled 'India and its Native Princes,' is the most agreeable as well as the 
most magnificent book of Indian travel we have had for many years. It is no slight testimony to its merits 
that fifty copies of it have been included in the presentation volumes specially provided for the Prince of 
Wales for distribution among native notables. It covers, to a great extent, the route which the Prince 
himself will take in his journey through the East. But its chief attraction lies in its vivid pictures of scenes 
and phases of Indian life at the semi-independent native Courts, which, since the days of the old travellers, 
have rarely been described at length, and which, indeed, only guests of M. Roiisselet's exceptional qualifi- 
cations would be permitted to examine at their leisure The illustrations (316 in all), whether of 

native races, scenery, or buildings, are quite as good as the letterpress. We know, indeed, no book about 
India, where its architectural monuments, so often rather i^/s«rr^ than attractive, are so effectively depicted, 
or where the artist has been more successful in choosing for his sketch the most advantageous point of view." 

ROME, BY FRANCIS WEY. With an Introduction by W. W. Story, Author 
of '■'■ Roba di Roma." New edition, beautifully illustrated with 346 large engravings 
on wood by the most celebrated French Artists, a magnificent volume in super royal 
4to. cloth, reduced from £1 is. to 2<^s. 

Ditto, morocco, super elegant, gilt edges, ^t^. 
*^* A few copies of the original Edition, cloth extra, ^3 y. 

EXAMPLES OF MODERN BRITISH ART. Forty Masterpieces by the most 
celebrated Painters of the English School, from Hogarth to the present day. 
Reproduced by the Permanent Woodbury process. With Biographical Sketches of 
the Artists. Size of Plates, 9|-in. xyin. Imperial 4to. cloth elegant, full gilt sides 
and edges, £2 2s. 

The above, elegantly bound in morocco, super extra, gilt edges, 4 guineas. 

MUSEE FRANCAIS (THE). Fifty of the finest Examples of the Old Masters 
from this famous Collection. Reproduced in Permanent Woodburytype,^ with 
Descriptive Letterpress to each plate, printed on fine thick paper at the Chiswick 
Press. £2 2s. 

The above, elegantly bound in morocco, super extra, with inlaid sides and gilt 
edges, £^ 4^. 



Published by Messrs. Bickers a7id Son. 



l^anti^omel^ 31ll«0tt:ateti Mi^x\^— continued. 

DRESDEN GALLERY (THE). Fifty of the finest Examples of the Old Masters 
in this famous Gallery. Reproduced in Permanent Woodburytype, with Descriptive 
Letter-press to each Plate ; printed on fine thick paper at the Chiswick Press. 
Imperial 4to. cloth elegant, full gilt sides and edges, £2. 2s. 

The above, elegantly bound in morocco, inlaid, super extra, £\ 4^. 

BOYDELL GALLERY (THE). A Series of Ninety-eight Pictures illustrating the 
Dramatic Works of Shakespeare. With Descriptive Letter-press to each Plate. A 
New Edition. Imperial 4to. cloth elegant, reduced from ^3 3^. to £2 2s. 

The above, elegantly bound in morocco, super extra, 4 guineas; 

CONTEMPORARY ART. Thirty Etchings and Chromohthographs, after the 
Original Pictures, by Eminent Artists of the present day, with Explanatory Text. 
Small folio, cloth elegant, richly gilt, £2 2s. 

MILTON (JOHN), THE POETICAL WORKS OF. Printed in large type. 
With Life by A. Chalmers, M.A., F.S.A. With Twenty-four Illustrations by 
John Martin in Permanent Woodburytype. A New 4to. Drawing-room Table 
Edition. Cloth elegant, £1 is. or morocco elegant, £2 2s. 

The CHiSMriCK Press Editions. 

CHRISTIAN YEAR (THE). Thoughts in Verse for the Sundays and Holydays 
throughout the Year. By John Keble. Exquisitely printed on toned paper, with 
elaborate borders round every page. Printed at the Chiswick Press. Small 4to. 
cloth extra, with Twenty-four Illustrations by Fr. Overbeck. Reproduced in Per- 
manent Photography. i5j-. Ditto, antique calf, £1 los.', ditto, morocco elegant, £2 2s. 

*^* This charming series of illustrations to the Scriptures reminds one forcibly of the design and vigour 
of Raphael, and combined with the chaste typography of the Chiswick Press, must render it the 
favourite edition. 



Another Edition, in fcap. 8vo. with Twelve Photographic Pictures by Fr. Over- 
beck. Selected from the 4to. edition. Cloth gilt, ^s. ; ditto, calf antique, red edges, 
I2s.; ditto, morocco extra, iSj. 

Edition de Luxe. Beautifully printed on superfine paper, with red lines round 



each page, and illustrated with 40 exquisitely illuminated miniatures in gold and 
colours, being exact facsimiles from Missal Manuscripts of the 14th and 15th centuries. 
Cloth, £1 lis. 6d.; morocco, gilt edges, £2 i^s. 

MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (A). By William Shakespeare. Profusely 
illustrated with Wood Engravings executed in the highest style of art, from designs by 
Alfred Fredericks. Demy 4to. cloth, super elegant, bevelled boards and gilt 
edges, 15^".; reduced to los. 



THE LEICESTER SQUARE EDITION. 
The most charjning single vohmie edition of Shakespeare ever published. 

SHAKESPEARE'S COMPLETE WORKS. Edited by Charles and Mary 
Cowden Clarke. With Portrait and 21 choice Illustrations from the " Boydell 
Gallery." Cloth elegant, gilt edges, 15^.; calf extra, gilt edges, ;^i Zs. 

SHAKESPEARE — THE BOYDELL TABLE EDITION. 2 vols. The 
above text printed on thick superfipe paper, with Sixty-six Illustrations. Cloth elegant, 
gilt edges, £2 2s. 



4 A List of Standard and Popular Modern Books 

l?anti<:(omelp 3|Uu0trateti W^m\^—contiimcd, 

A nrco illustrated Library Edition of Shakespeare, 4 vols, demy Svo. cloth extra, 
price 2 gimieas. 

THE BOYDELL SHAKESPEARE. The Complete Works of William Shake- 
speare. Edited with a scrupulous revision of the text by Charles and Mary Cowden 
Clarke. With Glossary, <S:c. Illustrated with 66 Illustrations from the " Boydell 
Galleiy." 

.*^* This is a new edition printed on fine paper, and will supply the want long felt of a handsome 8vo. 
edition well printed with good type, and illustrated, in a compact form and at a moderate price. 
It will form a capital Wedding or Christmas gift, and may be had elegantly bound in calf or 



morocco. 



BAVARIAN HIGHLANDS (THE) AND SALZKAMMERGUT. Profusely 
illustrated. Imp. 4to. cloth gilt, ;^l ^s, ; reduced to \2s. dd. 

FRENCH AND SPANISH PAINTERS. Etchings on Steel from Famous Pictures, 
with Critical and Biographical Notices of the Artists, 4to. cloth elegant, ^i \\s. 6d.; 
reduced to I5-5". 

The most superb book issued during the present century. 

SELECTED PICTURES FROM THE GALLERIES AND PRIVATE 
COLLECTIONS OF GREAT BRITAIN. A Series of 150 line Engravings 
from the best Artists, edited by S. C. Hall, Esq. F.S.A. &c. Proofs on India paper, 
imperial folio, each Plate printed with the greatest care, and accompanied by a de- 
scriptive page of letterpress of corresponding size. Four volumes, in four neat port- 
folios, pub. at £<iZ loj. ; reduced to 17 guineas. 

Bound in Two volumes, half morocco, elegantly gilt, 20 guineas. 

Or, in whole morocco, super extra, 22 guineas. 



Artist's Proofs, atlas folio, also on India paper, and of which only a few 

copies were printed, Four volumes as above, in four neat portfolios, pub. at ;^ 105, 
reduced to 22 guineas. 

Bound in Two volumes, half morocco, elegantly gilt, 26 guineas. 

The frti) remaining copies are offered to effect a cleai'ance at less than COST PRICE. 



SERMON ON THE MOUNT (THE). Illuminated by W. and J. Audsley, 
Architects, chromolithographed by W. R. Tymms. Folio, in emblematical cloth 
binding, 2<^s. 

A Book for the Country. 
Second and cheaper Edition, fcap. Svo. cloth elegant, ^s. 

OUR SUMMER MIGRANTS. An Account of the Migratory Birds which pass 
the Summer in the British Islands. By J. E. Harttng, F.L.S., F.Z.S., author of "A 
Handbook of British Birds," a new edition of White's " Selborne," &c. &c. Illus- 
trated with 30 Illustrations from Designs on Wood by Thomas Bewick. 

A Library Edition of the above, with all the illustrations. Demy Svo. cloth, super 
extra, gilt edges, \os. 6d. 

GOLDSMITH (OLIVER), THE LIFE AND TIMES OF, by John Forster. 
Fifth Edition, with Forty woodcuts. Demy Svo. cloth elegant, gilt edges, ^s. 6d. 

NELSON, THE LIFE OF. By Robert Southey. Illustrated with 12 Plates 
by Westall and others, reproduced in Permanent Woodburytype. Facsimiles of 
Nelson's Handwriting and Plan of Battle of the Nile. Cloth extra, gilt edges, 'js. 6d. 

LAMB. TALES FROM SHAKESPEARE. By Charles and Mary Lamb. 
Printed at the Chiswick Press, on superfine paper. Illustrated with 12 Plates from 
the "Boydell Gallery, " reproduced in Permanent Woodburytype. New Edition, demy 
Svo. cloth extra, gilt edges, ^s. 6d. 



Published by Messrs. Bickers and Son, 




Demy Svo. doth extra (tmiform binding), ilhistrated: — 

OSWELL'S LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON. With the Tours to 
Wales and the Hebrides. A reprint of the first quarto edition, the text 
carefully collated and restored ; all variations marked ; and the new notes 
embodying the latest information. The whole edited by Percy Fitzgerald, 
M.A., F.S.A. 3 vols, demy 8vo. cloth, 27 j. 

D'ARBLAY'S (MADAME) DIARY AND LETTERS. Edited by her Niece, 
Charlotte Barrett. A New Edition, illustrated by numerous fine Portraits 
engraved on Steel. 4 vols. 8vo. cloth extra, 36^-. 

GOLDSMITH'S (OLIVER) LIFE AND TIMES. By John Forster. The 
Illustrated Library Edition. 2 vols, demy 8vo. cloth, i5j-. 

GRAMMONT (COUNT), MEMOIRS OF. By Anthony Hamilton. A 
New Edition, with a Biographical Sketch of Count Hamilton, numerous Historical 
and Illustrative Notes by Sir Walter Scott, and 64 Copper-plate Portraits by 
Edward Scriven. 8vo. cloth extra, \2s. 

MAXWELL'S LIFE OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. Three vols. 
8vo. with numerous highly finished Line and Wood Engravings by Eminent Artists. 
Cloth extra, 22^. 6d. 

MONTAGU'S (LADY MARY WORTLEY) LETTERS AND WORKS. 

Edited by Lord Wharncliffe. With important Additions and Corrections, 
derived from the Original Manuscripts, and a New Memoir. Two vols. 8vo. with 
fine Steel Portraits, cloth extra, iSi-. 

ROSCOE'S LIFE OF LORENZO DE MEDICI, called "The Magnificent." 
A New and much improved Edition. Edited by his Son, Thomas Roscoe. Demy 
8vo. with Portraits and numerous Plates, cloth extra, 7^. dd. 

ROSCOE'S LIFE AND PONTIFICATE OF LEO THE TENTH. 

Edited by his Son, Thomas Roscoe. Two vols. Svo. with Portraits and numerous 
Plates, cloth extra, 15^. 

SAINT-SIMON (MEMOIRS OF THE DUKE OF), during the Reign of 
Louis the Fourteenth and the Regency. Translated from the French and edited by 
Bayle St. John. A New Edition. Three vols. Svo. cloth extra, 27J. 

WALPOLE'S (HORACE) ANECDOTES OF PAINTING IN ENGLAND. 

With some Account of the principal English Artists, and incidental Notices of Sculptors, 
Carvers, Enamellers, Architects, Medallists, Engravers, &c. With Additions by 
Rev. James Dallaway. Edited, with Additional Notes, by Ralph N. Wornum. 
Three vols. 8vo. with upwards of 150 Portraits and Plates, cloth extra, £\ 'js. 

WALPOLE'S (HORACE) ENTIRE CORRESPONDENCE. Chronologically 
arranged, with the Prefaces and Notes of Croker, Lord Dover, and others ; the 
Notes of all previous Editors, and Additional Notes by Peter Cunningham. Nine 
vols. Svo. with numerous fine Portraits engraved on Steel, cloth extra, £\ is. 

A 2 




6 A L ist of Standard and Popular Modern Books 

C&e Cf)istoicfe Press Jaeprints of ^tantiarti autbots. 

NO HANDSOMER LIBRARY BOOKS HAVE EVER ISSUED FROM THE PRESS. 

Each Work is carefully edited, and collated with the early copies, and printed in the same 

viginally published by the late Mr. Pick 

uniform with Mifford^s Milton, 8 vols. 

UTLER'S (BISHOP) ANALOGY OF RELIGION. With Analytical 
Index by the Rev. Edward Steere, LL.D. Pubhshed at 12s. 

" The present edition has been furnished with an Index of the Texts of Scripture quoted, 
and an Index of Words and Things considerably fuller than any hitherto published." — 
Editor s Preface. 

HERBERT'S POEMS AND REMAINS. With S. T. Coleridge's Notes, and 
Life by Izaak Walton. Revised, with Additional Notes, by Mr. J. Yeowell. 
2 vols. Published at i\s. 

JON SON'S (BEN) COMPLETE WORKS. With Notes, Critical and Explanatoiy, 
and a Biographical Memoir by W. Gifford, Esq. An exact reprint of the now scarce 
edition, with Introduction and Appendices by Lieut. -Colonel Cunningham. 9 vols, 
medium 8vo. cloth, f^^^ ^s. 

MILTON'S WORKS IN PROSE AND VERSE. Edited by the Rev. J. 
MiTFORD. 8 vols, medium 8vo. calf extra. 

A71 entirely Ntio Transcript of "■ Pepys' Diary,'' by the Rev. Mynors BRIGHT, M.A. 
PEPYS, THE DIARY AND CORRESPONDENCE OF, from his MS. Cypher 
in the Pepysian Library', with a Life and Notes by Richard Lord Braybrooke ; 
deciphered with Additional Notes by the Rev. Mynors Bright, M.A., President 
and Senior Eellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge. With numerous Portraits 
from the collection in the Pepysian Library, printed in Permanent Woodburytype. 
To be completed in 6 vols, medium 8vo. cloth extra. Price to original subscribers, 
\2s. each. Vols, i to 4 now ready. 

100 Copies printed o?i lai-ge fine Paper for Subscribers o?ily, at £1 lis. 6d, 
per volume^ nett. 

*^* This edition of Pepys' Diary contains one-third of additional iirntter never before published, and 
which is perhaps more thoroughly characteristic of the Author than any that has hitherto 
appeared. Numbers of errors, which materially affect the sense of passages, are in this new 
transcript corrected, and a list of the principal of them will be published at the end of each volume, 
to enable those interested to judge of the relative value of each edition. Lord Braybrooke's. 
"Additional Notes," printed in the sixth edition, have by arrangement with Messrs. George Bell 
and Son been incorporated in this edition, together with Explanatory Notes by the Rev. Mynors- 
Bright. 

The cloth binding is a facsimile of the bindings of the books in the Pepysian 
Librar}'. 

RELIQUES OF ANCIENT ENGLISH POETRY, consisting of Old Heroic 
Ballads, Songs, and other Pieces of our Earlier Poets, together with some few of later 
date, by Thomas Percy, D.D., F.S.A. Edited, with a general Introduction, 
additional Prefaces, Notes, &c., by Henry B. Wheatley, F.S.A. 3 vols, medium 
8vo. cloth, 36^-. 

25 Copies printed on fine large Paper, price, in half Roxburghe, ^2s. per vol. 



SPENSER'S COMPLETE WORKS. With Life, Notes, and Glossary, by Jonri 
Payne Collier, Esq., F.S.A. 5 vols, medium 8vo. Published at £1 15X. 

TAYLOR'S (BISHOP JEREMY) RULE AND EXERCISES OF HOLY 
LIVING AND DYING. 2 vols, medium 8vo. Published at 2\s. 

TAYLOR'S (BISHOP JEREMY) *' THE WORTHY COMMUNICANT." 

A Discourse of the Nature, Effects, and Blessings consequent on the Worthy receiving 
of the Lord's Supper. Pickering, 1853. Medium 8vo. Published at ioj. 6^. 

\* Only a few copies remain unsold. 



Ptiblished by Messrs. Bickers and Son. 




J13eto lifirarp CDitions of ^tanoarQ autf)ot0. 

RNOLD'S (Dr. THOMAS) HISTORY OF ROME. 3 vols, demy 8vo 
cloth, 36i-. 

In the Press, a nezv Library Edition, 2 vols, demy Svo. cloth, u7iiform with 
Arnold's "History of Rome." 
ARNOLD'S HISTORY OF THE LATER ROMAN COMMONWEALTH, 
from the end of the Second Punic War to the death of Julius Csesar ; and of the 
Reign of Augustus; with a life of Trajan. By Thomas Arnold, D.D. 

Reprint of Murray's Library Edition. 
COLUMBUS (CHRISTOPHER), LIFE AND VOYAGES OF. Together 
with the Voyages of his Companions. By Washington Irving. 3 vols, demy 
Svo. cloth, 22J-. ()d. 

COWPER'S POETICAL WORKS, including his translation of "Homer." Edited 
by Rev. H. F. Carey. Steel Plates, royal Svo. cloth, gilt edges, \os. 6d.; reduced 
to 6s. 

FIELDING'S (HENRY) COMPLETE WORKS. With an Essay on his Life 
and Genius by Arthur Murphy. Re-edited by J. P. Browne, M.D. ii vols, 
demy Svo. half roxburghe, top edge gilt, ^5 12s. 6d. 

FIELDING'S (HENRY) MISCELLANIES AND POEMS, foniiing Vol. XI. 
of his complete Works. Half roxburghe, top edge gilt, ys. 6d. 

These Poems and Miscellanies have never before appeared in a collected edition of his Works, and 
will range with any library Svo. edition. 

MILTON (JOHN), THE POETICAL WORKS OF. With a Life of the Author 
by the Rev. John Mitford. A fine Library Edition, printed on rich ribbed paper 
by Whittingham and Wilkins. 2 vols, demy Svo. cloth, 2ij-. 

This is an exact reprint, on suj>erior pajier, of the 2 vols, of Poems in the 8 vol. edition of Milton's 
Complete Works. 

MILTON (JOHN), THE POETICAL WORKS OF. With a Life of the Author 
by A. Chalmers, M.A., F.S.A. Svo. cloth, "js. 6d. 

N.B. — This is on thinner paper than the 2 vol. edition above, but is printed from the same large and 
elegant type, but without the "Mitford's Life of Milton." 

MOTLEY'S RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC. The Library Edition, 
uniform with the " History of the Netherlands." 3 vols, demy Svo. cloth, 31^'. 6d. 

The First Volu7fie of a New Series called "Bickers and Son's 
Historical Library." 

MOTLEY'S (JOHN LOTHROP) RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC. 

A New Edition, complete in i vol. medium Svo. cloth, ^s. 6d. pp. 928. 
%* Other Standard Works will be published at short intervals in this Series. 

SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS AND POEMS. Edited with a Scrupulous Revision 
of the Text, but without Note or Comment, by Charles and Mary Cowden Clarke. 
With an Introductory Essay and Copious Glossary. Four Libraiy Svo. vols, cloth 

gilt, ;^I I I J. (>d. 

*^ This splendid edition of Shakespeare's works is copyright, having been carefully revised and 
amplified by Mr. and Mrs. Cowden Clarke. The Text is selected with great care, and is printed 
from a new fount of ancient type on toned paper, forming four handsome volumes, bound in cloth 
extra, calf, calf extra, russia, or in the best morocco with appropriate tooling. 

"Sth Thousand." 

SiHAKESPEARE. " The Best One Volume Edition, with Essay and Glossary, by 
Charles and Mary Cowden Clarke. Large Svo. beautifully printed and bound , 
, cloth extra, 9/. 



8 A List of Standard and Popular Modern Books 

iPelD %\\SX^XI (EtiitlOIXSf or»)ttintiartl ^WXS^^X^— continued. 

SHERIDAN (RICHARD BRINSLEY), THE DRAMATIC WORKS OF. 

With a Memoir of his Life by J. P. Browne, M.D., and Selections from his Life by 
Thomas Moore. 2 vols, demy 8vo. half roxburghe, gilt top, 21^. 

SHERIDAN. "THE POPULAR LARGE TYPE EDITION." The above 
text, reprinted on thinner paper, forming one handsome volume, demy 8vo. cloth 

extra, 7^-. 6d. 

SMOLLETT (TOBIAS, M.D.), THE WORKS OF. With Memoir of his Life. 
To which is prefixed a view of the Commencement and Progress of Romance, by 
John Moore, M.D. A New Edition. Edited by J. P. Browne, M.D. 8 vols, 
demy 8vo. half roxburghe, gilt top, £0^ 4^. 

STERNE (LAURENCE), THE WORKS OF. With a Life of the Author, 
written by Himself. A New Edition, with Appendix, containing several Unpublished 
Letters, &c. Edited by J. P. Browne, M.D. With Portrait of Sterne, engraved 
on Steel for this Edition. 4 vols, demy 8vo. half roxburghe, top edge gilt, £2 2s. 

jVeiu Library EcUtion of Lane's ^^ Arabian Nights." 
THE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS; Commonly called The Arabian 
Nights' Entertainment. A New Translation from the Arabic, with copious Notes by 
Edward W^illiam Lane, Author of "The Modern Egyptians." Illustrated with 
many hundred Engravings on Wood from original designs by William Harvey. 
A New Edition in 3 vols, demy 8vo. cloth gilt, price ;^i i is. 6d. 

Second Edition, with Ten Letters not ijichided in atty previous Edition of the Work. 
WHITE. THE NATURAL HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF SEL- 
BORNE. By the Rev. Gilbert White, M.A. The Standard Edition by Bennett. 
Thoroughly Revised with additional Notes by James Edmund Harting, F.L.S., 
F.Z.S., author of "A Handbook of British Birds," "The Ornithology of Shakespeare," 
&c. Illustrated with numerous Engravings by Thomas Bewick, Harvey, and 
others. Demy 8vo. cloth gilt, \os. 6d. 

a5oo&0 of JRefetence, $c. 

ENTHAM'S BRITISH FLORA. Handbook of the British Flora. Ade- 

^ scription of the Flowering Plants and Ferns indigenous to or naturalized in 

the British Isles. For the use of Beginners and Amateurs. By George 

Bentham, F.R.S., President of the Linnean Society. With hundreds of 

Illustrations from original drawings by W. FiTCH. 2 vols. 8vo. cloth. 

Reduced from ^3 los. to £1 16s. nett. 

CHAFFERS' (WM.) MARKS AND MONOGRAMS ON POTTERY AND 
PORCELAIN of the Renaissance and Modern Periods, with Historical Notices of 
each Manufactory. Preceded by an Introductory Essay on the Vasa Fictilia of the 
Greek, Romano-British, and Mediaeval Eras, by Wn.LiAM Chaffers, Author of 
"Hall Marks on Gold and Silver Plate," "The Keramic Gallery," &c. Sixth 
Edition, revised and considerably augmented, with 3,000 Potters' Marks and Illustra- 
tions, and an Appendix containing an Account of Japanese Keramic Manufactures, 
&c. &c. Royal 8vo. cloth, 42^-. 

6th Thousand. 

CHAFFERS. THE COLLECTOR'S HANDBOOK OF MARKS AND 
MONOGRAMS ON POTTERY AND PORCELAIN of the Renaissance 
and Modern Periods. With nearly 3,000 Marks and a most valuable Index, by 
William Chaffers. Fcap. 8vo. limp cloth, 6s. 

*if* This handbook will be of great service to those Collectors who in their travels have occasion to refer 
momentarily to any work treating on the subject. A veritable Multum in Parvo. 




Published by Messrs. Bickers and Son. 



BOOfe^ of ^zZziZntZ^ %t^— continued. 

CHAFFERS' HALL MARKS ON GOLD AND SILVER PLATE, with 
Tables of Date Letters used in all the Assay Offices of the United Kingdom, and 
much additional information. Royal 8vo. cloth, \2s. 6d. 

\* This edition contains a History of the Goldsmiths' Trade in France, with Extracts from the Decrees 
relating thereto, and engravings of the Standard and other Marks used in that country as well as 
in other Foreign States. 

CLARKE'S (MRS. COWDEN) COMPLETE CONCORDANCE TO SHAKE- 
SPEARE, being a verbal Index to all Passages in the Dramatic Works of the Poet, 
New and Revised Edition, large 8vo. half morocco, flexible back, £i iSj. 

FAIRBAIRN'S CRESTS OF THE FAMILIES OF GREAT BRITAIN 
AND IRELAND. Compiled from the best authorities, by James Fairbairn^ 
and revised by Lawrence Butters. One Volume of Plates, containing nearly 
2,000 Crests and Crowns of all Nations, Coronets, Regalia, Chaplets and Helmets^ 
Flags of all Nations, Scrolls, Monograms, Reversed Initials, Arms of Cities, &c.. 
Two vols, royal 8vo. cloth, 42^. 

LATHAM {Dr. R. G.). A DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LAN- 
GUAGE, founded on that of Dr. S. Johnson, as edited by the Rev. H. J. Todd, 
with numerous Emendations and Additions. Second Edition, 4 vols. 4to. half-bound 
morocco, flexible, £6 6s. 

Another Edition, condensed in one large vol. royal Svo. cloth, 2<\s. 

NEUMAN AND BARETTI'S SPANISH AND ENGLISH DICTIONARY. 

Last Edition. 2 vols. Svo. cloth, £1 Zs. 



Miscellaneous. 




ECLUS' (ELISEE) THE EARTH. A descriptive History of the Pheno- 
mena of the Life of the Globe. Translated by the late B. B. Woodward, 
M.A. and edited by Henry Woodward, British Museum. Illustrated by 
230 Maps inserted in the Text, and 24 Page Maps printed in colours. 2- 
vols. Svo. i^s. 
A New Edition in i vol. Svo. cloth elegant, gilt edges, 1 5^. 

RECLUS' (ELISEE) THE OCEAN, ATMOSPHERE, AND LIFE. Being: 
the Second Series of a Descriptive History of the Life of the Globe. Illustrated with 
250 Maps or Figures, and 27 Maps printed in colours. 2 vols, large demy Svo. I5i-. 

Famous Books for Boys. 
EDGAR'S HEROES OF ENGLAND. Stories of the Lives of the most Celebrated 
Soldiers and Sailors, with Illustrations on Steel by Gilbert. i2mo. cloth gilt, 35-. 6d. 

HEWLETT'S HEROES OF EUROPE. A Companion Volume to the "Heroes- 
of England." i2mo. numerous Illustrations, cloth gilt, 3^. 6d. 

Reduced fy-om 21 s. to \os. 
BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. With the Psalter, and with finely executed wood- 
cut borders round every page, exactly copied from "Queen Elizabeth's Prayer 
Book," and comprising Holbein's "Dance of Death," Albert Durer's "Life of 
Christ," &c. crown Svo. cloth uncut, ioj., cloth extra, I2i-., calf antique, \6s. 

GRAY'S POETICAL WORKS. Illustrated by Birket Foster, handsomely 
printed. iSmo. cloth, 3^. 6d. 

BULWER'S (DOWAGER LADY) "SHELLS FROM THE SANDS OF 
TIME." A Series of Essays, handsomely printed in crown Svo. cloth extra, 5^-. 



10 A List of Standard a?id Popidar Modern Books 



9^\^tZ\\^m^m—continned. 

ELLIS'S (WM.) ENGLISH EXERCISES. Revised and Improved by the Rev. 
T. K. Arnold, M.A. 121110. 26th Edition, cloth, 2s. 6d. 

FAMILY PRAYER AND BIBLE READINGS. i2nio. cloth, red edges, 5^^. 

HERBERT'S, GEORGE, POETICAL WORKS. New Edition, edited by 
Charles Cowden Clarke, with Introduction by John Nichol, B.A., Oxon, 
numerous head and tail pieces. Fcap. 8vo. cloth extra, gilt edges, 3^, 6d. 
Ditto ditto calf antique, red edges, 8j-. 

MAJOR'S LATIN GRAMMAR, nth Edition. i2mo. cloth, 2s. 6d. 

MAJOR'S LATIN READER OF PROFESSOR JACOBS ; with Grammatical 
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